CHIEF executive of the FAI, John Delaney, visited the Ballymun United FC complex last Saturday week (July 12) to witness first hand the excellent work currently taking place at the club.
Club official Bernard O’Connor and Director of Coaching at Ballymun United, Joey Malone, welcomed Mr Delaney to the Northside and thanked him for taking time out to visit. He was reminded of the last occasion he visited with then manager of the Republic of Ireland, Giovanni Trapattoni, to lay the complex’s first brick.
In turn, Mr Delaney thanked Bernard O’Connor, chairman Jimmy Dunne and Joey Malone for their invitation and congratulated them on such a fine complex. He said everyone involved with the club were great servants to the Ballymun community.
“Everyone including the business community in the area should get behind this fine club with the support that is needed to finish off their clubhouse,
? said Mr Delaney.
The FAI boss assured the club it was going in the right direction by appointing Joey Malone as its Director of Coaching.
“Joey is a vastly experienced coach and I have no doubt that his professionalism will have a very positive effect on those who come under his direction,
? he added.
Mr Delaney spoke to the young players assembled and said that when he was their age he would have wished to have had such a fine complex to train and play in. He told them they should be delighted to be involved with such a great club.
All the players responded with a big cheer when Mr Delaney announced that he was inviting them to the Republic of Ireland’s European qualifier against Gibraltar on October 11 as guests of the FAI.
Joey Malone presented Mr Delaney with a gift from the club and thanked him for his visit. He also thanked him for the promise of further help as they strive to finish off the complex.
‘The Ballymun United FC Building Development Fundraising Campaign’, has been launched and the club is appealing to the local community and businesses to bring the project to a successful conclusion.