WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 13th MARCH 2022

Well, there was only one winner at the weekend and that was the weather, after all the heavy rain throughout the week all competitive games including all our senior and youths teams were victims of the bad weather with waterlogged pitches the order of the day.  Our ever popular Saturday junior academy also was also cancelled. Even the scheduled WDFL senior ladies 7-a-side tournament fixed for Arklow Town’s grounds fell by the wayside.

Our 50/50 draw continues every month, we ask all members to try support this important fundraiser as we are trying to improve facilities around our grounds. Projects like turning the sand area into an all weather training area is one of the ideas we have but we need the support from our members to make this happen. With the jackpot not won in March it now means the April bonus ball jackpot moves to €2,200. Remember if your name is drawn from the drum, you are guaranteed 50% of all monies taken in and then the added bonus of being in for the bonus ball jackpot number in the main lotto draw the night following our 50/50 draw. Tickets for the April 50/50 draw are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.wicklowroversclubshop.com or from any club member up to midnight on Thursday the 31st of March. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 5th of April and will take place live on our club Facebook page. Thank you all for your continuous support.

All managers please remember with the new junior season up and running we request that you send in your match result and goalscorers to your relevant fixtures secretary as soon as possible on completion of your match. It is unfair on club volunteers to have to chase managers for their results. It doesn’t matter what the result is, the result still needs to be sent in. This needs to be done for several reasons, media deadlines [Wicklow People, Club Facebook and Club Website] need to be met as well as the league needing to keep records for the purposes of regrading. Please remember we are all volunteers and the sooner all information is in the sooner we can all relax and enjoy our day, thank you.

Well done to our trio of players from our Leinster Senior team who donned the Irish jersey last Saturday in the UEFA Regions Cup Qualifying play-off against a strong Region 1 side. The Region 2 management team consisted of former club member James Quinn and present first team coach James Macklin. Region 1 eventually won the game 3-0 but they had to battle for the victory. It proved to be a very competitive game. Peter Finnegan and Rikki Quinn both started the match with Mick Delaney being introduced after seventy minutes. The lads found themselves 1-0 down at half-time, with the game in the balance two mistakes early in second half killed the game. The better team on the day won but a brilliant experience for our own home grown players putting the Irish Jersey on and representing our club on the international stage. Well done to Peter, Rikki, Mick, James and Dixie.

The club’s weekly junior soccer academy continues every Saturday morning [weather permitting] under the watchful eye of senior club coaches Johnny Dunne, Stephen Clarke and Jimmy Nolan. The academy takes place on the club grounds at Whitegates and is open to all kids from the age of 3 years to 8 years. The academy starts at 11 o’clock and finishes at 12. There is no need for registration so you can come along to any week that suits. Come along and learn the skills of football while having fun and enjoyment, it’s a great way of meeting new friends as you learn the skills as you get prepared for the introduction to participate in organised league football in the coming years.

Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joe Earls, St Manntans Road, who sadly passed away recently. Joe would often have being seen around Whitegates with his brother Anthony, our club president. Joe used to pop in for a cuppa while also enjoying the banter with the lads around the grounds. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Marie, sons Joseph and Paul, Daughters Alice and Elizabeth, sisters Sr. Carmel, Doreen and Rose, brothers Anthony, Brendan, David and Frank, son-in-law Noel, daughter-in-law Tanya, his grandchildren Michael, Paul. Bernadette, Kaley and James, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Anyone with anything for our club notes, Facebook page or our club website can contact me by email at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com or by text to 087-9108706. For all news regarding the club, check out our club website at www.wicklowrovers.com or the club facebook page.