WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 11th DECEMBER 2022

On Thursday night the under 12A’s suffered disappointment in the final of the shield under the lights at Credit Union Park in Arklow. Against a very good Newtown Juniors side normal play and extra time failed to separate the two teams. At the end of extra time the sides were locked at 1-1 with Dan Connolly netting the Rovers goal. It was onto the dreaded penalty shootout which Newtown went on to win 4-3. It proved to be a tight entertaining game between two evenly matched sides. Hard luck lads, congratulations to Newtown Juniors on their success. The severe freezing weather put paid to all club games at the weekend. The WDFL called off all senior matches which meant our division 3 team's match away to Rathnew AFC and our two youth’s games away to Avonmore and at home to Rathnew AFC were all called off. The WDFL season now pauses for Christmas and will resume the weekend of the 8th of January. On the junior front both the under 11's National cup game at home to Portlaoise AFC and the 12A’s National cup match away to Suncroft AFC were postponed and will now be played this coming Saturday 17th December with the same kick off times and same venues. The 12B's plate final against Shillelagh was also a victim of the weather with the under 15's shield final also been called off. These two finals will now be suspended and played at the start of the new season.

Congratulations to Mark Wynne who was the winner of our December 50/50 draw picking up a cheque for €242.50, unluckily for Mark he missed out on the bonus ball jackpot of €3,000 to top up his winnings when his bonus ball number 7 let him down. It means our bonus ball jackpot now increases to €3,100 for the January draw. Tickets are on sale for our 50/50 draw on a continuous basis. The draw will have a guaranteed monthly winner, who will also have the chance to win a Jackpot prize by predicting the Bonus Ball Number in the main Irish Lottery draw that will take place the day after the winner is announced. The cost of a ticket is only €5, and you can buy as many tickets as you like. You can also subscribe to a monthly payment option, so that you won’t forgot to enter into the draw each month!!. The Jackpot prize is €3,100 for our January draw and will go up by a minimum of €100 per month if not won. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 3rd of January. It will be streamed live at 8pm on the club Facebook page. Tickets will be available to purchase online via our club shop website www.wicklowroversclubshop.com on an ongoing basis, you can also purchase your tickets by contacting any committee member or any club member. Any questions, please contact us at wrafcshop@gmail.com Many thanks from the Wicklow Rovers fundraising committee.

The executive committee of Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to wish our managers, assistant managers, coaches, players, our academy participants, parents, sponsors, supporters of the club and our friends in sport a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. We would also like to wish a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all the clubs, WDSL committee, WDFL committee, LSL committee, MGL committee, referees, Brendan Lawrence and all the staff of the Wicklow People. Without all these people we could not provide football and media coverage week in week out for all the members of our clubs. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to one and all.

The club’s annual AGM will take place on Wednesday the 18th of January in the clubhouse at Whitegates. It will start at 7.30pm sharp and we request members to attend. The AGM will start at 7.30 sharp so please try to be early, thank you.

Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC were saddened to hear of the recent sad passing of Helen Russell [née Dunne] of Dunbur Road and The Mariner, Wicklow Town. Helen and her family have been big supporters of the club over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband James, daughters Joanne, Vicki, Claire and Suzanne, her grandchildren Alex, Max, Jack, Zach, Ruby, Oisín, Lucas, Elliott, Sam, Éabha, Alfie and Joe, her sons-in-law, sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, extended family and friends. May she 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.