‘We’ve had many false starts, many broken promises’

The magic of the Cup, you can't beat it. Johnstown FC, who were founded in 2004, have never won the Challenge Cup and they won't win it this season - but then they are not a club obsessed with winning trophies.

They have another agenda, a philosophy if you like - namely the development of young soccer players.

That's all laudable and welcome, but they feel they are been greatly hampered in that, their primary pursuit, by the fact that they have no home. They claim promises were made to them and other sporting groups in Johnstown concerning the provision of facilities. Those promises, they say, have proved empty and show no sign of being ever fulfilled - to the detriment of the local youth.

The club's ethos, and sense of grievance, becomes clear when you talk to the manager of their first team Eoin Sheridan. He along with assistant Christy Cavanagh patrolled the sidelines during a recent Challenge Cup game in Enfield.

They coached and encouraged their young side throughout the 90 minutes of a hectic, lively, full-on cup tie. The team in the famous Candystripe shirts put up a sturdy challenge too before ultimately losing 3-2 to Davy Byrne's talented Enfield Celtic outfit.

Was the Johnstown manager disappointed? Of course he was but in the course of an after-match conversation he also outlined the primary philosophy of the club - and why many in the area his team represents feel aggrieved.

"We in Johnstown FC have been trying from the get-go to acquire facilities, we've had many false starts, many broken promises," he said.

Enfield Celtic FC have the kind of home they have every reason to be proud of - two full sized, well-maintained pitches with plans for further development. They are a well-run outfit, winners of the FAI Club of the Year award in 2019.

Sheridan complimented the club for what they have achieved but the facilities available to them also served to underline what Johnstown FC don't have. A place they can call home.

"We don't want something for nothing, we are willing to invest our own money, we have our own funds, we are clever with our funds, we are just waiting for that opportunity," said Sheridan.

"There is talk of a possible space in Dunville, Johnstown, that's for the whole community, not just for Johnstown Football Club, it's also for facilities such as men's shed, Irish dancing, boxing, whatever, it's about getting a home for the community and we as a club are very much part of that. We can see the facilities Enfield Celtic have, if we had this we would be even bigger as a club."

Sheridan outlined how at present Johnstown FC spends thousands every season hiring pitches at the MDL for training and playing.

"We pay a lot of money in pitch rental at the MDL which is fantastic to have, if we didn't have the MDL where would we be? Gerry Gorman and the whole team up there are very good to us.

We are nearly 20 years formed but we need a home, that has been our goal from day one.

"All there is in Johnstown is houses, people who move to the area years ago will talk of promises that were made for playgrounds, parks, facilities for the young kids, the young people but there's nothing there.

It's a big negative for the local TDs, the local Council. What are they waiting for? There is more houses being built in the area but there's nothing there for the community."

There is a real sense that this feeling of injustice is driving people involved with Johnstown FC ever onwards. They won't be diverted in their search for a home ground; a place they can call their own.

"This football game tonight. We're disappointed to lose, of course we are, but the most important thing is that these young lads are willing to learn, that they are fighting for the cause, and we will get there."

Johnstown have a strong under-age set-up with a steady conveyor belt of talent emerging.

That reality was underlined by Sheridan who pointed out how of the 15 players he had in his squad on Friday night, 13 of them came through the club's under-age set up.

"Bringing on young players is what we are about," he added. "We wouldn't have a club without a strong under-age structure."

Despite making it into a couple of semi-finals over the years Johnstown FC have never lifted the Challenge Cup and their hopes were ransacked by a clinical Enfield outfit the other week.

"We have a young side, the main thing is we're sticking together. The players are eager, they want to play, that keeps us going," added Sheridan.

Enfield Celtic Davy Byrne had reasons to be cheerful - but he also revealed the kind of problems a manager has to grapple with. Because of injuries and withdrawals for other reasons his squad was wafer thin.

"I had four injured, two away, one in college, and one sick at home. For the whole season it's been like that, four weeks now we've had a different 11 out. We have a good back up squad with the second team but it's just as well we have."

Football management. Who said it was all glitz and glamour?

Byrne and his Enfield players at least have a home ground. That's something Johnstown FC are still chasing.