Full name | Ballingarry Association Football Club |
---|---|
Short name | Ballingarry |
Founded | 1984 |
Ground |
Astropark, Ballingarry, Ireland |
Capacity | 1000 |
Chairman | Paschal Moynihan |
Manager | James Higgins |
League | Limerick Desmond League |
2009/2010 | 10th |
Website | <span%20class= "languageicon"%20style="font-size:0.95em;%20font-weight:bold;%20color:#555;">(English) Club home page |
Ballingarry A.F.C. is an amateur Ireland football club from Ballingarry, County Limerick, Ireland, the club was founded in February 1984 that currently competes in the Limerick Desmond League.
Although Ballingarry A.F.C. was only formed in 1984, soccer was played by many from the parish well before that date. In the late 1960s, a Ballingarry team played in and indeed contested the final of the Holycross tournament, with Jim Carmody, Pat Malone, Paddy Dunworth and Moss Doody being members of the side that was probably the very first soccer team to represent the parish.
The foundations for the club were most likely laid in 1974, when the under-12 team became the first to win a memento of any sort, finishing in the bronze medal position in the Community Games under the guidance of Dr. Michael Lucey. Many of this team went on to play for the junior team in the following decade. In the intervening years, players from the parish were playing for local clubs such as Deel United in Rathkeale, until such time as a junior team was in place. Many would also reference a 7-a-side tournament organised by Moss McAuliffe and Conor Snow in 1981 as another major step in bringing soccer to Ballingarry. It was run on an annual basis, and contributed greatly to the creation of a soccer community in the parish, as numbers of up to 100 were taking part.
The exact date that Ballingarry A.F.C. was formed is not recorded, however what is certain is that it was in February 1984, in the supper room, that Ballingarry Association Football Club was formed. After much discussion by a gathering of approximately 30 people, it was decided to enter a team in the Desmond District League for the coming season 1984/85. The following officers and committee were elected and entrusted with the task of getting the club off the ground, Chairman: Moss McAuliffe, Secretary: Noel Hayes, Treasurer: John Clancy, Committee: Joe Burke, James Clancy, James Cronin. The team manager was Moss McAuliffe, who was joined in the role by Moss Doody later that season. It was decided that the club's colours would be yellow and green, which with little variation, remain in place today.
With very little actual resources, the club set about raising funds to make the club solvent - up until this point the only item the club had in its possessions was the name Ballingarry A.F.C., nothing else. A sponsored walk was organised, money was generated, and a pitch was secured in large part thanks to the generosity of the late Archdeacon Lyons, and affectionately became known as the 'Canons Field'. During the course of the first season, the club moved home to a pitch supplied by the late Bernard Sheehy at the rear of the 'Grove'. All the necessary equipment was purchased, the club's application to the Desmond League was successful, and the aforementioned annual 7-a-side tournament was the basis for selection of the first Ballingarry A.F.C. squad. Finally, the parish was to have its very own soccer team, and the new season was awaited with great anticipation.