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Mayo Association football League
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 8TH MARCH 2011
Chairman's address
Welcome
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all delegates to our AGM for 2011 especially the new faces who are attending their first AG M,also a special word of welcome for the delegates of Newport Town who are making a return to the League after a number of years absence.
I also extend a warm welcome to our invited guests and speakers who will address the meeting and thank them all for attending this evening.
I Welcome also and Thank most sincerely the Members of the Local media who have done so much good work in the promotion of our game this year and indeed in previous years
Welcome to representatives' of our sister leagues and members of the Referees society.
Cooperation between all of ourselves is vital for the smooth running of our game and I want to pay tribute to The Mayo youths and Schoolboys/girls committee, the Mayo Women's League, Referees assessor Jimmy Blake and the officers of Mayo Referees society for their help and courtesy during the past season and look forward to a continued working relationship for the year ahead.
I want to thank all of our Sponsors and I encourage football people to remember and support them whenever possible especially now where every euro is vital to business and to football, we are lucky here in Mayo to have such loyal sponsors as The Welcome Inn Hotel, Elverys, Westaro Hosing, Umbro, Connacht Gold ,The Connaught Telegraph, McHale Agri Forest and Garden Oliver Kelleher.
Thanks' also to the L MC Members and all volunteers who do sterling work much of it unnoticed throughout the year.
Review of year
Oscar Traynor Campaign
I believe strongly in the principal of having representative teams where every player within out League has the opportunity to try and make the step up to a higher level. This year our Manager held open trials where 45/50 players took part; while preparations were hampered by the arctic weather conditions a number of new players from the lower divisions made the breakthrough and represented our county for the first time.
While we didn't progress to the knockout stage this season it wasn't for the want of trying by our players and management team and I want to thank; Brendan Kenny (Manager) David Nash (Assistant Manager) Paul Fielding (Coach) and Seamus McWalter (Physio) and all the Players for their efforts also Tom Kelly and Joe Butler for their work with the Kit and equipment.
Review of 2010,
A milestone year in the history of football in this country with the completion and opening of the Aviva Stadium. Despite all the doom and gloom, despite all who said it couldn't be built; can't be paid for, won't be filled, Football people throughout Ireland and especially here in Mayo are now proud to have a stake in one of the most modern stadia in Europe and I would like to bring this analogy down to a local level and I want to applaud the work that is being done to grounds and facilities in communities throughout Mayo even at this time of economic difficulty.
I urge all clubs to continue improving and developing their playing pitches, clubhouses, dressing rooms and to look outside the norm and utilize the new income streams that are available;
- The John Giles Foundation especially the Walk of Dreams
- The 3 Mobile affinity scheme
- The shared access scheme
Representatives of the above are in attendance tonight and will address you later. Funds can also be accessed through the Mayo Sports Partnership Participation grant scheme and our own club development fund;
Tonight we announce funding to the following clubs based on projects applied for this year;
- Ballina Town €500
- Bangor Hibs €2000
- Claremorris €2000
- Moy Villa €2000
- Ballyhaunis Town €2000
The year ahead 2011
Theme; Participation
Soccer is the largest participation sport in Ireland, The most recent ESRI sports survey 16% of the adult male population in Mayo/Sligo region reguraly plays our sport.
There remains a large proportion of the population who has the potential to be involved in Football. I urge all clubs and affiliates to open your doors and arms and use the every avenue to bring more people into our game
At every level we need more coaches, managers, referees, administrators, groundskeeper's and PRO's to enhance our sport,
Every Club in this room could benefit from having more help to share the workload
There are many people with more time on their hands now who could benefit themselves and the game by becoming involved. They won't come on board if they are not asked.
While we have up to 13 ‘'Cabinet'' seats here on the LMC only 7 are currently filled.
I am asking for more representation to help with the work load if there are people interested who can not commit to the LMC perhaps there are some who could help on a part time basis e.g. help on match days....
The ‘'goal for life'' scheme which was the brainchild of our own Paul Byrne has proved such a success in giving new people soccer and life skills that other sporting bodies want to get in on it for next year,
We now have an opportunity top take jobseekers into our clubs via the new social employment scheme ‘'TUS''
I am encouraging all clubs to avail of this scheme which is being administered by the South Mayo Development company (in Newport) and the North Mayo Development company this is additional to the other Fas and community employment schemes that currently exist.
Coach /volunteer education
We in the Mayo League recognize the importance of the many Volunteers' who are so vital to our game and we are committed to providing all volunteers with the knowledge and tools to carry out their roles to the maximum of their ability and for 2011 we will continue to provide courses and workshops throughout the year
Kick start One & Two; Senior Intro coaching courses; Strength and conditioning and small sided games workshops have taken place or will take place this season
We also intend to have in the near future another Media evening particularly aimed at PRO"s and Team Managers who are likely to be interviewed before and after matches.
Additionally through our involvement with the Mayo Sports Partnership many other valuable courses and information sessions will be provided.
Finally for now I would like to wish all clubs a successful and enjoyable year ahead and look forward to working with all the stakeholders within our game in order to develop and progress further
I invite all delegates to participate fully in this AGM; When speaking please identify yourself and your club and address the meeting only through the chair.
Thank You.
Padraig McHale
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