It was a very busy weekend of festivals and music in Drogheda, but while most people were out and about listening to the music and enjoying the craic, a simple but very significant event was happening in Moneymore as Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne TD presented Moneymore FC with the FAI Club Mark.
The FAI Club Mark has nothing to do with what happens on the pitch, it is an accreditation standard which ensures best practices in the governance, management and administration of a grassroots football club.
Speaking about the significance of the award, Minister Byrne said: “It is a huge achievement, it is a mark of quality and the foundation of the future of the club.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Moneymore FC, club treasurer and club mark co-ordinator Paul Kerr remarked: “This is a fantastic achievement for the club. All the hard work put in by everyone is paying off.”
Clubs start their Club Mark journey at Entry Level and can then progress to become a One Star and Two Star club. Each step requires the club to implement policies and procedures in line with best practice.
Although it took almost 18 months of hard work and dedication to achieve the standard, the club are not resting on their laurels and are progressing already to attain the One Star standard.
The club was delighted that a number of local representatives, Fergus O’Dowd TD and local councillors Paddy McQuillan, Anne-Marie Ford and Ejiro O’Hare Stratton, were also able to attend. They helped out on the day by presenting Player of the Month awards to Sean Nelson Lewicki, Denas Laiva, Nathan McNally and Kyle Bohan.
To emphasise the importance of the Club Mark achievement, FAI development representatives Trevor Scanlon and Mick Neville were also in attendance. They congratulated the players, coaches, volunteers and committee in achieving the award.
“It’s great to see Moneymore obtain the FAI Club Mark Entry Level award and a huge well done to all of the club volunteers and members who made this happen” said the FAI’s Trevor Scanlon.
They wished the club the best for the future, especially in their ambition to continue their progress by obtaining the One Star award.
Moneymore FC chairperson Ben Meade would like to thank Mick Neville and Graham Kane of the FAI for their support and guidance in working towards the Club Mark award.
Currently Moneymore have almost 100 young players, from ages 6 to 13. It is a club at the centre of its community and has a team of dedicated volunteers and coaches who make the club tick each and every week. It is a club with enormous potential and will undoubtedly continue to go from strength to strength over the coming years.
