TRAINING TIMES
Monday 8-15-9.15pm St Oliver Plunkett PS
Wednesday 5pm-6pm Colin Valley 3G

Contact Co- Manager's Marty McLaughlin on 07729 691215 or Michael Jonesfor further information

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CLUB BACKGROUND

St Oliver Plunkett Football Club was founded in 1969 when the new community in Lenadoon attempted to redress the hurt and damage it, and particularly the young people, were experiencing during the outbreak of the troubles. Based in and organised from the youth club the club thrived for many years with the senior sides experiencing great success in the Northern Amateur Football League and the junior sides picking up numerous coveted trophies in underage leagues. Beyond the control of leaders and members alike the youth club sadly closed its doors in 1981 and placed the future of the football sides in real doubt. Against the odds, volunteers such as Jackie Maxwell continued, operating without a base, providing this much needed service for the children of Lenadoon. Today the club fields 10 sides each week in The South Belfast Boys Football League, The North Down League and The Belfast & District League with a playing membership of over 200 boys. Recently the club has acquired its own pitch at a newly developed site in Lenadoon which it now uses for training and playing on each week. The club each week is reponsible for the set up of 15 separate coaching/training evenings using various venues within the Belfast area.

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YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The club has a record second to none in producing footballers for the professional game in England and beyond and also the for the semi professional game in N.Ireland. Today we have ex Plunkett players, current Ipswich Town Manager and former Ipswich Town and Northern Ireland Captain Jim Magilton, Phillip Mulryne at Cardiff City, Paul McVeigh at Norwich City, Brian Close at Middlesborough and Mark Hicks at Millwall. Previously, Anton Rogan played for N.Ireland and Glasgow Celtic and ex Plunkett player Teddie Quinn became a star player in the U.S.A. captaining the international team on many occasions before recently retiring. A remarkable record given the fact that the club has been deprived of its own facilities down through of the years. The club has always maintained that it views success in terms of attracting children firstly and then to educate and coach them so that they stay with the game, no matter at what level they are involved.

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OFF THE PITCH

The club has embarked on projects to widen their influence on their members. Cross community programmes are ongoing in conjunction with the BELB. In the past the club has taken part with other clubs to bring children on residentials such as outdoor pursuit breaks. The leagues it competes in are also made up of teams whose children come from different religious backgrounds.
The club has also liased with the N.I. Sports Council to set up a school to allow its club coaches to gain the recognised coaching badges. Last year as many as 20 adults benefitted from a course put on exclusively for the club by the I.F.A.
During the summer holidays the club, with the help of members, will organise a Summer Scheme. Transport will be provided to take members to the Milk Cup in Coleraine with a special interest most years in club members taking part in the tournament. Additional trips are put on to seaside resorts and community football competitions and coaching sessions are also part of the programme. Membership is open to everyone.

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RESIDENTIALS

Each year a lot of time is devoted by club officials to send 7 of its sides to Blackpool to take part in the Annual Boys Clubs International Tournament. The full cost of the project is in the region of fifteen thousand pounds and requires strenuous fundraising efforts by coaches, members and parents to allow it to take place. Transport costs alone are in excess of four thousand pounds and 10 adult leaders must arrange to have four days work leave provided by their employers. Many as a consequence are forced to take unpaid leave and as volunteers cannot be financially compensated. All at the club believe however that the value of the experience to the young people cannot be measured in terms of financial worth and as a result will continue to give the children these type of opportunities.

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CLUB COLOURS

Home: Black and White Stripe Shirts,
Black Shorts and Black socks with a white band.

Away: Ipswich Town Home Kit - Blue Shirts, White Shorts and Blue Socks.

3rd Kit: Ipswich Town Away Kit - Orange Shirts, Black Shorts and Black socks.
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CONTACT US

If you are interested in obtaining further information or joining the club at any level, please send us an email via the "Contact Us" tab on the left hand side of our Home Page or ring Neil McKee on 07789 266232. Alternatively if you would like to sponsor us we would be delighted to hear from you.

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