Ferrybank AFC
Club History
Many different sporting clubs all over the country can trace their origins to the resolve and hard work of a small group of people determined to provide a sporting outlet for the young people of their area. While there has always been an interest in a wide range of sporting activities in Waterford City and County, the last half-century has seen the development of numerous GAA and Soccer clubs in particular. In Waterford City alone there are 39 soccer clubs fielding 109 teams in 11 leagues. One of the benefits of our increasingly affluent society has been the increased expenditure on sport. Most clubs are now acutely aware of the need to provide improved facilities in order to encourage young people to participate in sport. The formative years of Ferrybank AFC were marked by the constant striving of the club to secure a ground of their own.
Following a nomadic existence that continued for many years, the problem was seriously addressed in the last decade, when plans were put in place to provide a modern new venue for the club. Ferrybank secured a lease on six acres of land at Abbeylands and by 1997 two playing pitches were ready for use. The construction of new dressingrooms when completed will provide an excellent facility for our club, which has been in existence for over 50 years. Jimmy Searson, the founding member of Ferrybank AFC in 1948, is still involved with the club. "I suppose the main motivating factor in trying to set up a soccer club in the area was to give the kids something to do. There was plenty of interest in the game, but the only outlet for playing was on the road." With no money in the kitty, it was clear that financial assistance would have to be found in order to provide playing gear for the proposed new team. Jimmy set about raising the necessary funds and soon had enough to purchase the club's first playing kit. "Bishop Harvey, the Protestant Bishop, donated half a crown, as did William Burley, secretary of Waterford Football Club. Together with other small contributions we were able to buy our first set of jerseys, which were black and red hoops from George Goodfellow, who owned a sports shop on the Quay where J.D. Sports is now." In the very early days the club was known by another name and catered for only one team. "We were known as 'Suir Rangers' and played our football at Willow Gardens, which was open ground where Castle Oaks and the Fairways estates are today." Members at that time resisted the urge to call the club 'Willow Gardens Wanderers' perhaps for obvious reasons!
Within two years of its foundation the club were successful on the playing field when Suir Rangers won the U16 league in 1950. CHANGE The following years brought much change, including the formation of the first committee to organise and look after the affairs of the club properly. Suir Rangers became Ferrybank AFC and adopted new green and white colours, which remain the club's colours to the present day. We encountered much the same problems as many others club during the fifties and sixties: where to play the matches and travelling to and from the various games. The only mode of transport was the bicycle and if you were lucky enough to own a bike you had the added pleasure of transporting a passenger to the matches! The more pressing problem facing our club was trying to find a home of our own. For over forty years, Ferrybank AFC moved from field to field. After our move from Willow Gardens we had the use of a field at the top of Rockshire Road and spent three years there. Our dressing room was a chalet that we transported from St. Patrick's Hospital, dismantling it on the hospital grounds and re-erecting it at the field. In the following years our club would have to find several new venues. Thanks to the Brothers of Charity at Belmont Hospital we spent several seasons playing on grounds attached to the hospital. When that land was needed for the Brother's own use we were on the road again. We continued to move around, playing at Grannagh, then on to Slieverue's pitch and next to a field at the top of Milepost Hill.
The next stop was Murphy's field in Killaspy, before we finally secured a permanent property. In the early 90's Waterford Corporation leased six acres of land to the Waterford Junior League for our use. We began using the two playing pitches five years ago and put in place plans to develop modern dressing rooms to replace the containers currently in use. EXPENDITURE Expenditure on the project to date exceeds £250,000. We have received government grants of £100,000 and contributed £50,000 from our own resources. The balance is made up from borrowings and our very successful lotto, that has been in operation for the past ten years, will continue to help finance the development. The schoolboys' section of the club has seen rapid growth in recent years. With the population of Ferrybank continuing to expand, there's an increasing number of young boys and girls interested in playing soccer. In addition to the Division Premier and 2b teams, the club caters for juveniles from 7 up to youths, with two managers looking after each team. While the immediate aim of the Premier team is to retain premier division status, we are only too well aware of the need to develop the juvenile side of the club.
Undoubtedly one of the most memorable days in our history was the meeting of Ferrybank and Shelbourne in the S.F.A.I. u/12 Cup semi-final 2000. Although the home side lost 4-2, the game attracted the biggest crowd ever to watch a schoolboys' match in Waterford. Notable players who began their playing careers with Ferrybank include Jackie Lonergan, who went on to play with Waterford, Noel Norris who won a junior cap for Ireland and more recently John O'Shea, currently a regular starter on the Manchester United first team. Ferrybank AFC is a modern progressive club, dedicated to the development of soccer. The club has made remarkable progress since its foundation over half a century ago. When fully completed the club's development at Abbeylands will provide a facility more than capable of catering for the needs of Ferrybank AFC for some time to come.
The Pitch
In the summer of 1997 after 49 years of club existence, Ferrybank AFC finally moved into our new ground at Abbeylands Ferrybank. We had waited years for a place of our own and finally we secured a lease for land off the Waterford Corporation and then the dream of having our own ground was fast becoming a reality. To celebrate the opening off the ground we decided to host a two-day event. A large marquee was erected on the all-weather surface to cater for music, drinks, food, and entertainment. A number of small marquees were also erected as dressing areas for teams partaking in the opening day. Public toilets had to be erected, licenses applied for and outside food caterers put in place.
The opening, which was held on the Saturday, saw the pitches blessed by Fr. Jim Crotty, Parish Priest. The sun, which was of Mediterranean proportions shone throughout the day.
Saturday was for the senior side of the club with exhibition games and tournaments throughout the day. A ballad band entertained the huge crowd from 2.00 till 6.00. The night was to see the biggest crowd ever in Ferrybank at an event with invited guests who had a part in the development of the site, parents of our players, supporters of the club and lotto draw, and the general public of Ferrybank were all in attendance to enjoy the music provided.
A special mention to Mr. Eamonn Mckenna, Waterford Hire Ltd, who was the major sponsor on the day and provided all the equipment required. Also to Walter Walsh who transferred his bar license for the weekend and constructed the bar himself.
The Sunday was to be the day for the schoolboys but unfortunately from about 4.00am a deluge of rain started and lasted throughout all Sunday. When arriving at 9.00am on the Sunday morning the rain had caused some of the marquee to collapse and the event had to be cancelled. The schoolboys did get their day some weeks later and again another great occasion was had.
On the 9th May 1998 at Jury’s Hotel Ferrybank our club held the 50th anniversary ball of the foundation of the club. This was another great night in the clubs history and was made more special on the night by the appearance of John O’Shea who on that day arrived back in Ferrybank with his winner’s medal which he won at the European Under 16 Championships in Scotland.
Fastforward to the year 2003 and our ground is forever changing and improving for the better. This year we finally opened our new clubhouse. The clubhouse is a huge assist to our club. Downstairs you will find a fully stocked first aid room, two large dressing rooms, and three separate toilet cubicles. Upstairs you will find a committee room and a large general purpose room plus a balcony, which oversees the two pitches. At the side of the building is a nicely sized referees room plus an equipment room. The building is one of the finest in its kind in the country and it will serve us well in the future.
At Ferrybank AFC we are all about progression and our next target is the refurbishment of the all-weather pitch into a synthetic grass surface. This is our next target and hopefully with a lot of work and effort we will be able to complete it.
The History of our Lotto
Sunday 7th of April 2002, was the tenth anniversary of the Ferrybank AFC lotto. The first draw was held on Sunday, April 7th, 1992 in Paddy Flynn's popular establishment. The notion of running a lotto was brought to the club by John 'Doxer' Burns who had observed the good work of Wexford club, North End who were raising funds through a locally run lotto. John had the vision to see the benefits that a well-organised fund raiser could bring to a community and the committee of the day under the chairmanship of John Gaffney were quickly won over to the idea. So the Ferrybank Lotto was born with initial hopes of a three year run but here we are, ten years later, and still going strong.
The main strength of the draw lies in the dedication of all those who turn up week after week to hold the draw, the commitment of all those who take on the onerous task of selling tickets, the people who purchase tickets and of course the Lotto would be nothing without the support and work of the 'Lotto Ladies'. The benefits of the draw are there for all to see at our grounds in Abbeylands, a testimony to all involved.
On Sunday 7th of April 2002 a special celebration was held in The Fountain Bar to mark the occasion of the anniversary. Former committee members returned to help with the draw and with music, food and special prizes laid on the tenth birthday of the lotto was celebrated in style. A presentation was made to John Burns to thank him for his foresight in brining the ides to the club and Maura Power presented a bouquet to Michelle Daly to honour the memory of her late mother, Ann, who was such a valued women of the 'Lotto Ladies'. Many of those who had made the venture such a success were present for the night and 2,200 Euro was won in 41 prizes in a special raffle the proceeds of which will be donated to the Special Olympics. Thanks to the diligent running of the Ferrybank AFC lotto for the past Ten years, our club has a healthy bank balance, which will further offset the huge costs of the project. The remaining finances required will be borrowed ensuring that the hard working committees at our club remain focused on fund-raising for the foreseeable future!
The lotto was set up in 1992 as a means of building up funds for the club's future development. It is now widely regarded as one of the best and most successful in the area. Tickets at 2 Euro each are sold on a weekly basis, with participants asked to choose four numbers from 28, plus a bonus number. The draw is made in a local pub each Sunday night and the general payout on a weekly basis, provided the jackpot is not won, is usually around 600 Euro. The jackpot figure rises by 375 Euro per week and is capped at 20,000 Euro. Since its inception, lotto sales have exceeded expectations and have contributed enormously to our club's current financial position.
The successful running of a venture such as the Ferrybank AFC Lotto depends on the hard work and perseverance of several groups of people.The ladies committee have contributed enormously to the lotto's success over the years. We have an excellent ladies committee at the club who have put a lot of hard work and effort in the smooth running of the draw on a weekly basis. Great credit is also due to those who sell the tickets every week and the support we have received from the public has been fantastic and made it all worthwhile."
To contribute to our lotto you can play online now by clicking here.
