WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 21st AUGUST 2022

Well, our summer camps came to an end last week with week two of our camps coming to a finish last Friday.  Yet again we had great numbers with the second week following suit of the first week and being completely sold out. It is great to see so many kids playing football and enjoying the game. The second week was another major success and it was great to see Whitegates such a hive of activity last week. Definitely it is fantastic to see so many kids wanting to play football, it makes all the hard work behind the scenes so worthwhile. There’s a few people we need to thank for making the second week of the camp such a success. Firstly, thanks to Stephen Clarke for organising the online payment system, it makes the signing in process so much easier. Thank you to Rachel Taglienti and Karla Clarke who ensured all the kids received their jerseys and kept the process moving smoothly. A massive thanks to club chairman Paul Delaney who made sure the signing in process ran efficiently and quickly with everyone signed up in double quick time.  A big thanks to head coaches Johnny Dunne and James Macklin and their team of coaches Rachel Taglienti, Emer Kennedy, Ben Patterson, Tomas Kennedy, Aleksander Richardson, Bob Hastie, Ryan Kavanagh, Evan Conyard, Ben Corkish Doyle and Jack Macklin, well done to all our coaches on making the kids time at the camp so enjoyable. Thanks to Corrina Collins who even though wasn’t present made sure before she jetted off an a well earned break that all the bills in conjunction with the camp had being sorted, thanks Corrina. To club president Anthony Earls, thank you for being on hand to help out during the week. You are always around to help out in anyway, Anthony was the man behind sorting out our sprinkler system last week so once again thank you Anthony. Thank you to the parents for supporting our summer camp, without you it wouldn’t be the massive success it is, your continued support is appreciated by everyone at the club, thank you parents. Finally, but not least a big huge thank you to one and all of the kids that were in attendance, your enthusiasm, spirit and behaviour was impeccable, a credit to yourselves and your parents, great to see so many of you playing the sport with smiles on your faces, well done everyone and thanks once again to everyone and hopefully we’ll see you all back next year.

Our senior teams continue to train every Tuesday and Thursday nights in the Rocky Road kicking off at 7.30pm both nights. The club will be competing in the Leinster Senior League and the Wicklow League. Our training sessions are open to all youth and senior players, to present, past and new players, everybody is welcome to attend. If you are interested in playing for the club this season but can’t attend the open training sessions at the moment, please contact any of the following: BA Franey 086-3631836; James Macklin 086-2662839; Matt Lincoln 087-2791648; Tom Doyle 087-6830486 or David “Doc” O’Connor 087-9935351. Alternatively, you can contact any committee member or pm us on the club facebook page with your details. All committee contact details can be found on the club website at www.wicklowrovers.com

The start back date for all our junior members to resume playing matches for the second half of the season will be upon us before we know it. The WDSL activity on the playing field kicks off again with competitive matches on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday the 3rd and 4th of September. The non-competitive action restarts the following weekend 10th and 11th of September.

The WDSL would like to advise all players/parents of the upcoming player assessments throughout the age groups for the league’s representative squads. These are open to any player currently registered and playing within the WDSL. Players/parents are asked to get their fixtures secretary to submit the player’s name, DOB and playing position. All those interested in attending the assessments must attend the appropriate venue 20 minutes prior to start time in order to sign in and register. Player assessments venues and dates of birth are as follows: Players born 2009; Sunday 28th August – U14’s Shillelagh Ballard Park 3pm – 5pm. Players born 2010: Wednesday 24th August – U13’s Aughrim Allen Park 6.30pm – 8.30pm; Saturday 27th August – U13’s Arklow Celtic, Celtic Park 3pm – 5pm. Players born 2011: Wednesday 31st August – U12’s Ashford Ballinalea Park 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

The club’s weekly junior soccer academy has been on a break for the last few weeks because of our community fun day, the Doran Family Football Blitz and the unavailability of our academy coaches through holidays. We are pleased to announce that the academy returns this coming Saturday the 27th of August and will continue every Saturday morning [weather permitting] under the watchful eyes of senior club coaches Johnny Dunne, Jimmy Nolan and John Kelly. 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. A footnote to our academy, the club would like to thank John Gerard McGettigan and East Glendalough School for the use of their facilities for the month of July while our own pitch was undergoing maintenance, once again a big thanks to John and East Glendalough School, your help was very much appreciated by everyone at the club.