WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 4th OCTOBER 2020
Our junior competitive action kicked off on Friday night when the under 16's travelled to Travers Insurance Park to take on Arklow Town in the Wicklow Advertiser Shield. After a tight tense game which ended 1-1 it was onto the nerve racking penalty shootout. Luke Dunne scored the Rovers goal in normal time. The penalty shootout proved to be a nail biting affair with Rovers coming out on top, winning 8-7. On Saturday our 12B's took on league leaders Rathnew and this little team showed how much they've improved when they ran the unbeaten leaders close, losing out 3-2 in a five goal thriller. Conor Martin and Naoise O'Dubhslaie hit the Rovers goals with Josh McCann and Ryan Fitzpatrick standing out in a good all round team performance. The under 14's went down 2-1 away to Avonmore, the lads took the lead when Daniel Kavanagh fired home. Rovers pushed forward in search of number two but got hit with a sucker punch in the second half when the home team levelled. With five minutes remaining Avonmore scored what proved to be the winner. The lads will be a bit disappointed they took nothing from a game their performance deserved but they know a positive result next weekend will see them make the playoffs in the shield.
On Sunday the 13A’s went down 2-0 to a good Ashford Rovers side at Whitegates. The lads are not getting much luck at the moment but their day will come. They gave everything in this game but didn’t get the rub of the green. The 13B’s recorded an excellent 3-2 away win over Glencormac, Adam O’Brien scored for the third successive game, Jack Lambe nabbed his fifth of the season with Calum Hodgkinson completing the Rovers tally to ensure all three points were brought home. Cameron Hughes and Joe Kenny put in a good shift in a good team performance. The under 15’s made it five wins from six shield games with a 3-0 away win over local rivals Rathnew at Shamrock Park. The lads put in a professional display to maintain their good run. Ryan McConnell, Peter Dunne and Jack Noble were all on the mark for Rovers. Cian Leonard and Kacper Lepek were both unlucky to see efforts hit the woodwork while Aaron Nolan preserved his clean sheet with a fantastic save in the dying seconds.
The club’s rescheduled AGM will be held on Tuesday 13th October in the Pastoral Centre in the old De La Salle. The AGM was originally cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The AGM will start at 7.45pm sharp, all members welcome to attend. Please wear face covering as per Covid-19 protocols and arrive early as meeting will start at 7.45pm sharp, thank you.
Membership fees have been halved due to the shortened season caused by Covid-19. Any member who paid their fees in full prior to the Covid 19 lockdown can utilise this overpayment towards their 2021 membership or request a reimbursement. Three registration nights have already been held and a further one is planned for this Friday 9th October. Fees can also be paid by bank transfer. The final option is to pay via ClubZap our new club app. We request that all fees are paid by or on the 9th October 2020. Please email wicklowroverssecretary@gmail.com in confidence should you need to arrange an alternative payment plan.
Wicklow Rovers AFC promote soccer for schoolboys/girls, youths and senior men and ladies in the community, our club is growing all the time and any assistance with the help of running the club would be very much appreciated. At present we have a very hard working committee but we are always seeking people interested in helping out, the club are always on the look out for people who are interested in getting involved in soccer, whether its coaching and managing or on the executive committee or a sub committee, maybe you would just like to help as an assistant manager, help with fundraising or help just around the grounds or in anyway at all, don’t hesitate, get involved, anyone interested in helping out the club in anyway can contact any committee member. So if you are interested in doing some work around the club please contact any of the following committee members, Johnny Dunne, Paul Delaney, Jimmy Nolan, Trevor Conyard, Yvonne Conyard, Stephen Clarke and Ross Byrne, contact numbers can be found on the club website or alternatively you can private message our club facebook page. So why not come on board, all help is welcomed and very much appreciated.
The club’s weekly junior soccer academy continues every Saturday morning [weather permitting] under the watchful eye of senior club coach Johnny Dunne. The academy takes places on the all weather pitch 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.
