'Tournament brings club and community together'
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Ref Jamie Peters oversees a game of rock, paper, scissors between the captains of Parkvilla and Johnstown.Image 2 of 6
U-9 cup winners Parkvilla with Ken Reilly (on the right) a brother of the late Ivan. Ken presented the cup in memory of Ivan.Image 3 of 6
U-9 Shield runners-up, Kells Celtic Youths.Image 4 of 6
Victors. Parkvilla the u-9 Plate winners.Image 5 of 6
Champions. The Parkvilla team , winners of the u-8 competition.Image 6 of 6
Parkvilla players keep a close watch on an opponent during a game.CLAREMONT CUP
For three days over one weekend they gathered, hundreds and hundreds of young footballers. The arrived at Claremont Stadium at different times to take part in the Claremont Cup, a tournament that was originally set up as a fundraiser for Parkvilla FC - and which has evolved over the past decade with all the speed of a fleet-footed winger.
According to Tournament Director Paddy Smyth, in the region of 1,000 youngsters took part in this year's tournament. They travelled to Navan from all over. There were young players from local clubs but they travelled also from many other counties including Kildare, Wicklow, Longford, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Louth and of course Dublin.
Lots of clubs from Dublin leagues participated including some famous names such as that great nursery of young footballers - St Kevin's Boys - teams from u-7 to u-11 took part as did girls teams from u-8 to u-11. Originally the tournament director was Tony St Leger but now Smyth has taken that formidable mantle.
However the Claremont Cup wasn't all about the famous clubs, or even the players. The tournament was also run by an army of volunteers.
"The tournament was a healthy mix of competitiveness but fun as well played in the right spirit with the games refereed by club volunteers," added the Tournament Director. "It's an event that brings club and community together. Club members and their families all help out, it takes a lot of bodies to get all the games played over the weekend."
It also takes months of preparations with Smyth and his team on the case from early in the year - if not before. A schedule has to be put together, one that works for everybody and which caters for the near 1,000 players involved. "You have to schedule all the games to make sure they all start and finish on time, get a referee for each game, run the carpark and have the place looking well."
Other, non-football tasks, have to be completed. Every youngster gets a goody bag and week before the tournament kicked off a phalanx of children and parents were down at Claremont Stadium putting together the 1,000 goody bags required.
Remarkably all the games took part on the one, main pitch at Claremont Stadium. The pitch was divided into four by great Parkvilla stalwart Gerry Kennedy who manages the playing arena for the club.
It all meant that four games could take place at any one time. It was one of the logistics from the weekend that ensured the tournament worked - and who knows how many of those young footballers might go on to be famous players in the future. Players who will look back on the Clearmont Cup as part of their education in football.