Johnstown FC celebrate big birthday but remain homeless

In 2004 Arsenal won the Premier League title in fine style. Arsene Wenger's wonders wrapped up the title without losing a game, the first time any club had managed to achieve such a feat since Preston North End back in 1889, no less. The same year, 2004 that is, Longford Town won the FAI Cup final defeating Waterford 2-1 in the decider at the old Lansdowne Road.

Just outside Navan a new football club came into existence. Johnstown FC were formed and club teams have ever since been familiar sights on the playing fields of Meath with their distinctive candystripe jerseys.

Now they are on track to mark their 20 years on the road by putting on a series of events this year.

The first of these birthday bashes was staged late last month when the club held a pre-season underage tournament. Over both Saturday and Sunday, games, for boys and girls, were scheduled at various levels from u-7 up to u-11 at the MDL.

The venue is where Johnstown teams play their games simply because they have no ground to call their home and the club couldn't ask for a better birthday gift than their own theatre of dreams.

While the quest to get a ground has been ongoing for years now talks with Meath Co Council are continuing and the hope is that something can be sorted out in the near future.

It finally looks like proposed new community facilities - including a football pitch, community building/changing facilities and a playground - will finally be provided in the Dunville area. At least club members are keeping fingers and toes crossed that proves to be the case. It's certainly badly needed all agree.

There is little doubt that in an area where there are few public amenities, the local soccer club is indeed providing an essential service; an outlet where local youngsters can express themselves playing the beautiful game.

Johnstown FC, have in the region of 400 members. They field adult teams in the NEFL, at Div 1 and Div 3 levels. The club also runs an academy which caters for youngster at under-five level up to under-seven. Those players then move into an underage structure that is made up of teams all the way up to u-18 grade.

Johnstown have survived and grown despite having no home ground. The club is, Justin Flynn adds, very grateful to Gerry Gorman and the NEFL for the MDL facilities but it does involve hiring pitches for playing and training that over the course of a year can be "in the region of €20,000."

Organising the underage tournament last weekend involved a lot of work by club officials with over 20 local clubs fielding teams but then planning things with care and efficiency is clearly something the Johnstown FC committee do very well.

Recently the club were awarded with an FAI Club Mark award. The Mark is a recognition, a prestigious prize if you like, given to clubs by the governing body for running their affairs with diligence and efficiency.

"Winning the Club Mark is a big deal for the club and we are delighted to have received it. This is a big year for us and we have planned a series of events to mark our anniversary starting with the under-age tournament," said Johnstown FC PRO Justin Flynn.

"We're looking at staging an all-girls tournament in Johnstown People's Park during the summer, then later in the year we'll have our 20th anniversary gala night in the Ardboyne Hotel. We want to highlight the good work the club has done in the community over the last 20 years."

Running a club like Johnstown invariably demands considerable sums of money. The club PRO says without the support of local business outlets survival would be considerably more challenging. "Funds from the Capital Sports grants system has also helped, as has the support of local representatives such as Alan Lawes and Eddie Fennessy in their dispensing of discretionary funds," the PRO adds.

Johnstown FC's first team had something of a golden spell between 2014 and 2016 when they chalked up some notable triumphs. They won the Fitzsimons Cup and sealed a number of promotions. In the past they also had sustained runs in the Challenge Cup. The club has overcome many challenges in its first 20 years. It will face many more but those involved remain undaunted. Clearly.