RICHMOND FEB 2001

RICHMOND




Richmond football club celebrated 21 years in the game in style last month.



The Waterfall based club has come a long way since its 1980 founding. Nowadays, no less than seven teams are proud to wear the blue and white hooped jerseys. The juniors and youths play in the AUL while schoolboy teams are fielded at Under 11,12,13,15, and 16.



Secretary Gerry Williams says the junior season so far has been very stop start, mainly because of the weather, now foot and mouth: "But we still managed to get to the semi-final of the Michaels Cup. Here, after a mighty battle with our near rivals, Ballinhassig, we went out on a 1-0 score. In the League we have four games played, three drawn and one lost. We have gathered a rather large panel, which we feel is necessary now in the age of heavy work commitments, when it's so hard to get a consistent team out every week".



This season has seen the introduction of new players: Ian Dineen (product of the underage section)and experienced heads Philip O'Sullivan, Roy Summers and Tim Kearney. The management team of Gerry Butler and his assistant Ger O'Shea (one of the founding members) are at the helm for their third season. This year's captain is current Player of the Year Vincent Drinan while Patsy McDonnell is the leading goalscorer. The Youths are managed by Jim Horgan and Ted Bennett.



The junior panel is: Stephen Connolly, Ian Dineen, Vincent Drinan, Mark Kennedy, Dave Waldock, Keven Keenan, Cathal Forbes, Joe Larkin, Gerry Butler, Alan O'Neill, Raymond Prendeville, Patsy McDonnell, Kieran Williams, Luke Bollard, Paul O'Neill, Timmy O'Connell, Brendan O'Shea, Gerry Willaims, Phillip O'Sullivan, Roy Summers and Tim Kearney.



According to Williams the aim for the season is to finish in the top three in the league "and maybe a Cup final thrown in. Our long term ambitions are to own and develop our own pitch and to promote the game of soccer to as high a standard as possible".



The secretary is proud of developments at Richmond Park in Waterfall: "It is on the lands of Denis Riordan to whom we are deeply indebted. We have dressing rooms for both teams and referee and also we have a floodlit training area. Wednesdays and Fridays are the nights for underage training while the juniors are there on Tuesdays. Both Youth and Junior teams train in the Mardyke on Thursdays".



There is a hard working committee at Richmond and it consists of: Sean Walsh, Ger O'Shea, Gerry Williams, Ted Bennett, Jim Horgan, Tim Connolly, Con O'Sullivan and Jim Cahill. Club sponsors include Cork Refrigeration, Castle Cleaners, Ace Control Services, Irish Oxygen, Crulaoi Meats, Castlewhite Developments and The Viaduct Inn.



* Richmond Association Football Club was founded in 1980 in time for the commencement of the 1980/81 West Cork League season. In the season 1983/84 Richmond made history when they completed the "Grand Slam" of West Cork honours- First Division League, Flor Crowley Cup and Carling League Cup.

* The season 1995/96 saw Richmond kick off their involvement in the AUL in Division 2. That season saw them finish mid table, but the high point had to be reaching the last 16 of the Munster Junior Cup. They eventually lost a titanic struggle to Passage (Premier Division) on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

* The season 1998/99 saw Richmond with representatives on both the Cork AUL youths team and the Cork Schoolboys U-13 Norton Cup team.

* Last season the County Cup Final in Turners Cross was a big occasion for the team and the club. However, a very strong Kinsale outfit spoiled the party with a stunning 3-0 victory.

* The club web site address is www.richmondfc.thesportscity.com.