Football club in Kildare nominated for Club of the Year award

Kildare club Ballyoulster United are preparing to make their case to become Ireland’s best Club at the end of this month and receive the prestigious AVIVA Club of the Year award. On the 29^th July, Ballyoulster will make a presentation at the FAI AGM & Festival of Football in Tipperary along with the seven other nominees, hoping to take away the €6,500 prize fund, but more importantly to be given the title AVIVA Club of the Year for 2016. Ballyoulster United, who were nominated for their excellence in the Club Facilities & Development category, are aiming to become the first Kildare club to win the AVIVA club of the Year. Two clubs were shortlisted in each of the four categories.  The eight clubs that have been chosen are; Springfield Ramblers(Cork) and St. Ita’s FC (Dublin) for Coach Education, Shiven Rovers (Galway) and Ballyouster United (Kildare) for Club Facilities and Development, Cappoquin FC (Waterford) and Park Villa (Meath) for Underage Participation and Cahir Park(Tipperary) and Cullen Lattin FC (Tipperary) for Community. Representatives from each club were in attendance at the Republic of Ireland v Netherlands friendly match recently as guests of Aviva to receive their nominees cheque for €1,500 and meet the judging panel ahead of their final presentations this month. The clubs were rewarded with their cheque by Aviva’s Club of the Year ambassador, and former Irish International, Jason McAteer, before being presented to the Aviva Stadium crowd at half time. Balloulster United and the other seven clubs will present to a panel of judges headed by Donal Conway, FAI Vice-President and including representatives from Aviva, FAI Club Development and Dublin City Council at the FAI AGM & Festival of Football on the 29^th July. The winning club will be named the Aviva FAI Club of the Year for 2016 and will receive a cheque for €5,000 on top of their nominee cheque of €1,500. Mark Russell, Sponsorship Manager, Aviva, said; “The Aviva Club of the Year is an initiative that helps support the very roots of Irish football.  It gives a helping hand to clubs all over the country who are doing great work in club development and recognises the key roles they are playing in their community.  These eight clubs are the heart of their communities with everyone giving of their own time to make these clubs work.  They are all extremely deserving nominees for the Aviva Club of the Year and it’s a great chance for them to secure €5,000 for their club.” Donal Conway, FAI Vice President & Chair of the Club of the Year Judging Panel, said; “The overall wellbeing of the game of association football in this country is hugely dependent on the quality of the clubs that promote and foster the game at grassroots level. The Aviva COTY Award is the means by which the FAI and wider football family recognises and affirms the work being done by clubs and their many thousands of volunteers in communities throughout the country” The Aviva Club of the Year is now in its 11^th year and is open to any club across the country to enter free of charge online.   Overall, in excess of €160,000 has been awarded to clubs country wide in recognition of their achievements on and off the pitch. Last year’s winners Achill Rovers from Mayo were nominated in the participation category but it was there overall work in the Achill community that saw them secure the award.  They integrated every part of the island, young and old, into the club and even attracted Cameroon World Cup star Joseph Ndo as a coach to Achill Rovers, such was the draw of the spirit around the club. Aviva Club of the Year Nominees 2016 Springfield Ramblers (Cork) for Coach Education St. Ita’s FC (Dublin) for Coach Education Shiven Rovers (Galway) for Club Facilities & Development Ballyouster United (Kildare) for Club Facilities & Development Cappoquin FC (Waterford) for Underage Participation Park Villa (Meath) for Underage Participation Cahir Park (Tipperary) for Community Cullen Lattin FC (Tipperary) for Community