Why Do I Bother Coaching Football Teams?

It’s a question I often get asked: Why Do I Bother Coaching Football Teams? Answering it can often come down to a “well who else would do it?” but that’s not always the reason.

I write this after reading this “Letter from a Volunteer Coach” posted on the St John Bosco FC Facebook page.

It got me thinking. Why?

Why bother sending out hundreds of texts about training every week? Arriving early to get the gear ready? Arriving early to get the training session set up? Texts about matches every weekend? Making sure the gear is ready for the match at the weekend? Packing away the gear afterwards? Finishing work early to get to matches or training? Spending your own money on gear to try take the burden off your voluntarily run club? (I don’t list these as a ‘show-off”, more an example of a normal week.)

It made me think of just last Saturday. Sweeping out dressing rooms…cutting pitches…marking pitches…coaching at a match. Six hours spent in the soccer club. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Sunday morning arrives and back to the soccer club 90 minutes before kick off – and 45 minutes before the players arrive – to make sure the dressing rooms are clean for the teams, making sure the kit is ready, preparing a warm up before everybody arrives and making sure the pitch and goals are ready for the match. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Match one ends at 1pm and it’s a 20-minute drive to coach another team at another match at 2pm. The same thing…jerseys, cones, footballs, bibs, warm-up, bottles, first aid, 90 minutes of a match and the day is over…seven hours after arriving for the first match of the day. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Whether it’s attending committee meetings for the voluntary committee that you and others sit on? Who give hours and hours to keep a football club going… Do we want thanks? Do we want a handshake at the end of the season? A small token gift to show appreciation?

I’ve been coaching football for as long as I can remember. I still remember, and wont ever forget, the first match I ever helped coach at. It wont be forgotten nor will the coach, Peter, who got me interested in the first place. A true football man who has taught me so much.

Fast-forward ten years and do I do it for the thanks? Or the appreciation? Or even the glory of managing a winning team?

Of course everybody wants a thank you. A handshake. Or a simple ‘fair play’.

You might not always hear a thank you toward a coach, but I do. A parent sending a text after a match. Or a player thanking you after a game. A former player keeping in touch and never forgetting where they’ve been or where they started. Or another coach complimenting your team. It’s there. We don’t always hear it with so much going on…as is the busy nature of football clubs.

But that’s not why I do it. Every coach and club volunteer has their reasons…I do it because I love football. I love the club I coach at. Working with the people I coach with. Seeing your teams enjoying their training and matches. Doing my bit to keep the place ticking over. I love that a community run club provides so many people with the opportunity to play football. What’s not to like about that?

But there’s no harm in sending your coach, or your kids’ coach a “thank you” every now and again. It can go a long way to that coach who’s maybe wondering that same question I’m always asked…

REPORTS: Wexford Youths 0 Longford Town 2

REPORT: Goals in each half from Kevin O’Connor and Josh O’Hanlon were the difference at Ferrycarrig Park, where Youths’ began their top flight campaign with defeat: http://www.goal.com/en-ie/match/wexford-youths-vs-longford-town/2180627

POST MATCH REACTION: Wexford Youths boss Shane Keegan is looking to build on the positives despite an 2-0 opening night defeat to Longford Town:
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2016/03/05/21009052/keegan-hoping-for-wexford-recovery

REPORT: LONGFORD TOWN STARTED the 2016 Premier Division season with a hard-fought three points after a 2-0 win against newcomers Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night:
http://www.the42.ie/wexford-youths-longford-town-league-of-ireland-2642893-Mar2016/

TALKING POINTS: League of Ireland Talking Points Week 1:
http://www.the42.ie/league-of-ireland-talking-points-shamrock-rovers-fans-2646348-Mar2016/

 

STATS: League of Ireland First Division goalscoring

STATS: League of Ireland First Division goalscoring

Salthill Devon and Waterford United have 9 goals each this season. Longford Town have scored 9 goals in just the last 15 minutes of their matches.

First Division goals stats weirdly close when divided by each 45 minute period. 61 first half goals with 60 second half goals so far this season.

The fifteen minutes after half time remains the lowest for goals in First Division with just under 10% (12 goals) so far.

The last fifteen 15 has been most fruitful in First Division with 26% of goals. 32 scored from 75 minutes onward.

26% of last 15 minute goals compares to just under 16% of goals (19) coming in the first fifteen minutes in First Division.

Waterford United haven’t scored a goal between the 21st minute and the 78th minute.

Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers have between them scored 1/3 of the total First Division goals so far.

Longford Town have scored majority of goals (70%) in 2nd half so far. Cobh Ramblers have scored majority (68%) in 1st half.

Wexford Youths have scored two-thirds of their goals in the second half of games this season so far.

(As as 12noon Saturday 18th May 2013)

America to the League of Ireland – Waterford United keeper Chip Sanders’ journey

At the age of 23, Chip Sanders decided a change was needed; a change of country, a change of continent and change of luck. The American packed his bags and moved to start his new life in the most unlikeliest of places; Waterford.

Credit: Waterford United

The goalkeeper decided on a move to the south east of Ireland and to move to a part of the world he’d never dreamed of being in, never mind starting a football career in. Yet it’s now a reality for the goalkeeper, as he embarks on his first season in the League of Ireland with The Blues.

Sanders describes the sequence of his move as ‘interesting’, with a former Blues coach giving a helping hand after some unsuccessful trial with others American sides.

“I went to USL Combine trials in January but nothing panned out with that, and then I trained with Columbus Crew for a couple of days but that didn’t work out either,” he explains.

“Then my goalkeeping coach Scott Schweitzer, who knows Giles Cheevers very well, said ‘why don’t you go over and have a look at Waterford and see if that might be a good fit for you’ and it kind of all worked out from there. It was kind of a roundabout way of getting here.”

Sanders’ move is certainly on the stranger side of the League of Ireland given that it is a predominantly home-based league. The keeper admitted that he knew little about Waterford, Ireland or the league he was getting involved in.

“I didn’t really know anything about it, but my high school coach was from Ireland, and he’d always say that I ought to take a look at Ireland. I never really thought about it until the opportunity presented itself and now I’m kind of just going with it and it’s worked out pretty well so far.”

“Giles Cheevers contacted the management in Waterford and said ‘I’ve got a goalkeeper who wants to get a chance over here and take a look’. So I got an opportunity to come over on trial in February. I was here for about two and a half weeks, I got a couple of pre season matches in and thankfully everyone, and the manager, liked me and it kind of went from there.

“I signed, went home to collect my visa and came straight back as soon as I could.”

The early stage of the former North Carolina Davidson College’s keeper’s time in Ireland was a tough one, he admits, in new life in a strange country with no friends or family.

“It was a bit daunting at the start, and a bit frustrating. I’d come over here and with the talent that we have for us not to get good early result was a bit disheartening and more difficult for me.

“My family are still in the States, and it’s a bit different being here away from family and friends but I’m making new friends over here.”

For all footballers coming into a new club and a new country it will take time to settle and get used to their surroundings. For Sanders, the Waterford United fans have taken to him straight away, with the Thomasville, Georgia-born keeper seeing his twitter page constantly on the go with fans looking to chat. It amuses Sanders, but he admits he’s honoured that they’ve taken an interest in him.

“It’s funny because stuff like that doesn’t happen at home, we don’t really have supporters as passionate but it’s really cool to be able to interact with supporters.

“I’m glad they like me,” Sanders jokes, thoroughly enjoying his new found fame, even if he still remains a little surprised by it.

“It’d be bad if they didn’t like me.

“It’s nice, it really nice to feel like you’re in a place where you’re wanted. I’m somewhere that I think people want me to be here and want me to do well and that’s always a good thing to be hearing.”

Sanders feels like he belongs in Waterford already and constantly refers to his happiness in his new surroundings and his new life. A contract that runs until the end of the season in November, he already feels an affinity, a startling loyalty, to the club despite his short time in the country.

“This is an historic club from everything I’ve read. We belong in the top flight and if me playing helps us to do that, then great, and I would absolutely love that but if I’m not playing, as long as we’re winning then that’s really all that matters.

“I kind of did a little bit of research, nothing too serious, but seeing that we’ve had six League of Ireland titles is huge, you know that’s big time and for us not to be in the Premier Division where we belong is tough.”

Sanders is now living with one of the other players in Waterford city and is getting used to life away from home. A poor start to their season means that they now play catch up with the teams above, but the 6ft 6in keeper has quickly got to know his new teammates as they look to turn a poor season around.

“Everybody’s been real welcoming and real helpful since I’ve got here. It’s different from home, like the culture, the passion, there’s a lot more over here, but I’m really, really enjoying it so far.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Waterford so far. It’s been quite difficult in getting settled and trying to adjust to a new place but I’m definitely enjoying it and enjoying my football for sure. It was tough at first but I’m finding our feet. We’re going to push on and I feel it’s going to be a good season.”

[Waterford United match programme May 3rd 2013]

League of Ireland First Division stats attack

Stats after Series One of the Airtricity League First Division:

LOI Division 1 averaging 2.9 goals per match after 1st serie of matches. Mervue United and Cobh Ramblers are top scorers with 16 goals.
First Division goals split almost evenly between 1st and 2nd half of games: 42 first half goals and 40 second half goals.
First Division goals stats sees 23% of goals scored in the final 15 minutes of matches so far.

Longford Town have scored 2/3 of their goals in the second half of games so far.

Mervue United have scored seven goals in the 15 minutes either side of half time.

Finn Harps have scored 44.4% of their goals in the opening 15 minutes of each half.

Cobh Ramblers have scored 11 of their 16 goals in the opening 45 minutes of their games.

Athlone Town have scored 75% of their goals in the first half.

Waterford United have yet to score from the 31st minute to the 78th minute in any game this season.

Wexford Youths have scored 80% of their goals in the second half of their games so far. 

Salthill Devon are one of only three teams to have not scored in the 15 minutes after half time.

Mooney apologies after Thatcher tweet

Irish cricketer John Mooney has apologised for comments made on twitter after the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Thirty-one year-old Mooney was forced to apologise after Cricket Ireland distanced themselves from the comments and said that they would consider disciplinary action.

“I would like to apologise to anyone that I upset with my tweets yesterday regarding the death of Margaret Thatcher,” Mooney tweeted this morning.

“I realise now that they were offensive to many and have deleted them,” Mooney added. “I’d like to assure my family, friends, employers and team mates that I have learned a very valuable lesson and in future will stick to focusing on my game!”

In a short statement, Cricket Ireland confirmed that they had asked the player to remove the comments. “Cricket Ireland would like to distance itself from the comments made by John Mooney earlier today on the social network Twitter following the announcement of the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,” they said.

“Cricket Ireland have asked the player to remove the comments which have caused offence, and will consider appropriate disciplinary action in due course.”

Southeast derby from the Ferrycarrig touchline

Being close to the action is an important part of being a football fan, and Ferrycarrig Park is one League of Ireland ground that allows you to get close to the action.

It’s a different view compared to the usual and gives you a different take on the game, the players and the managers.

It becomes fascinating. Every incident bringing an instant reaction from the managers, always differing from each other, but both with the same force needed to get your team on the right track.

For all the work done to build up grounds to make better stadia for fans to come to games, being close to the action is a nice change. You can hear every word that’s shouted from the touchline, the instructions from the manager and the interaction between officials.

Being close to the action in a derby game makes for a better spectacle and shows the game from a different perspective; this wasn’t just a derby, southeast bragging rights were on offer. From the off Waterford United are up for the game, and with little instruction from the bench needed, the away side control the opening exchanges and Paul Quilty and Vinny Sullivan make the most of a CJ Browne mistake to allow Sullivan in for a deserved opener. The sizeable away crowd have a dream start. Paul O’Brien is smiling.

Youths boss Shane Keegan calls for a regroup and his team do just that as Shaun Corcoran fires past Blues’ keeper Craig Hyland for the leveller just ten minutes later. The Youths bench erupt as the ball smashes the back of the net.

Keegan’s constant encouraging shouts make a change to the stereotypical shouts to try to do better. A name shouted with encouraging instruction. “Well done Crokey, brilliant, keep that going” is the message, and his players follow suit.

Fourth official Andrew Mullally begins to question the photographers. “Any of you get a picture of that tackle?” he asks. “No, why’s that?” “I thought it was a red card myself,” Mullally replies, looking displeased with the solitary yellow card handed to Vinny Sullivan from debuting referee Tommy Mazur.

The second half is all Youths and their togetherness is clear to see. Always talking to each other, getting each other to know what the next play was. The away side are quiet, apart from the odd shout from boss Paul O’Brien. The players look unsure.

Shane Nolan is the main influence. The midfielder is taking nothing less than a win and his endeavours keep his side on the attack and always in the ear of referee Mazur and fourth official Mullally, smartly looking for any advantage on offer for his side.

“You’ve a nice little arse, don’t ya?” is the joke among the Youths subs as they go to warm up, as Peter White fires an encouraging, settling shout toward young full back Jamie Cross after a nervy start.

As referee Mazur and his officials struggle to keep control of a feisty game, the inevitable red card arrives. Seamus Long’s attempt to block Aidan Keenan is ignored by referee Mazur but for the intervention of assistant Adam Tszampel who flags for a penalty. Mazur blows his whistle, pauses, before pointing to the penalty spot. The Youths bench jumps to their feet; a resigned Paul O’Brien turns to his dugout but stays silent. No complaint.

Seamus Long is red carded in a period that seems to take an eternity before Dean Broaders can dispatch his spot kick. Shane Keegan can’t watch. He turns his back to the pitch. He must rely on the reactions of the crowd. His subs and backroom team are celebrating on the pitch before the manager turns to be sure.

A deserved lead for an industrious Youths’ performance. “Five minutes added time, Andrew,” Referee Mazur shouts to the touchline, “four minutes, Tommy, is it?”. “Five minutes” is the reply, but Mullally ignores and decides on four minutes stoppage time.

The away fans’ are dejected and their anger is evident toward referee Mazur after a nervy start as the leading official. The Youths fans are thrilled. A performance with heart, determination and three points.

Dejected Waterford United players depart the field; a single clap toward the fans is all that’s mustered up after a disjointed performance. The Youths are happy, another early season derby win.

Mernagh’s Blues’ reputation continues to rise

Dylan Mernagh arrived at the RSC last season as an unknown in League of Ireland circles. Fast forward 12 months and the defender has become an integral part of a Waterford United defence that conceded just 29 goals in 28 league games.

(Credit: Waterford United)

Mernagh, who began in the left back position, had made the right full back spot his own with a string of impressive performances. Out of contract at the end of the season, with most of last season’s squad, the young defender was determined to return to the RSC and go one step better this season.

“We want to win the league, not just promotion, we want to win this league and please god we’ll be up in the big league next season.

“The disappointment of last year is not something any player wants to feel and it is almost unfinished business,” he said. “You don’t want to leave that settle and you don’t want that to be the memory, you want to go out and win the league, so hopefully the feeling this year will be a bit sweeter than it was last year.”

The start to the season last year ultimately proved costly, and Mernagh believes that a good start this season can be the difference.

“We weren’t that far off limerick last season, just four points, which was agonising. Draws and loses in the first series of games was the difference so hopefully we can correct that. Yes we’re going to lose games, of course, but we just need to make sure our start isn’t as bad as last year.”

Players have left and other players have come in during the off-season, and for Mernagh, the squad has improved.

“I think we’re a lot stronger going into the start of the season this time round, and hopefully that’ll show. It’s well known that we didn’t get the best of starts last year, but there’s a great buzz around the camp and everyone is really looking forward to getting started.

“We’ve had a lot of training and a good few preseason matches, but nothing beats the feeling of that Friday night and getting started. There’s a great buzz around the camp and it’s gone well. We’ve had some god results leading into this, obviously minus the Bray result, and we’re all looking forward to hopefully getting a good start and kicking on for the rest of the year.

“We’ve a lot of the same boys from last year, and a lot of us would have learned a lot of lessons, and the new lads that have come in have really boosted the squad so hopefully it’s just that one step further and kick on this year.”

Premier Ambitions Episode 2

In Episode 2 of Premier Ambitions, the season continues and Home Farm are looking good and getting a few wins under their belt. Scouts are coming to the games and taking interest, particularly Everton FC scout Paul Hamilton.

But things take a bad turn when, in an explosive end to the episode, Home Farm manager Terry Whelan questions the attitudes of his team. Terry loses his temper which gives viewers an insight into his no nonsense management style as he tries to get his side prepared for matches every week.

Episode 2 continues on Monday night at 21:45 and a child-friendly version repeats Saturdays at 11:00.

Promo from Premier Ambitions:

DCU confirm use of ‘external agency’ to recoup outstanding money owed

Tuesday 12th Feb – College newsday assignment
Brendan White

Dublin City University has revealed that they employ an ‘external agency’ to collect outstanding money owed to the university.

DCU said that the third party independent agency follows up on money owed but that it works under “procedures and protocols that have been agreed with the university”.

The university said that the use of the external agency was a last resort “after all other methods of collection have been exhausted and students have failed to engage in talks with the University”.

DCU said that the company deals with monies owed from the current time period and that outstanding fees from other college years would have been dealt with in the year the debt was occurred.