Hartstown Huntstown FC celebrate decade with FAI award

In 2011 Hartstown Huntstown Football Club was established as a result of the merging of Hartstown United and Huntstown Villa.

This progressive club is situated in Hartstown Park, Dublin 15.

With over 400 members, this club provides football to Grassroots and Senior players, along with offering Walking Football to the community.

Fast forward 10 years and the club has now achieved FAI Club Mark status. In this short period of time, the club has grown from strength to strength. What sets this club apart from many others, is it dedicated team of volunteers, who go above and beyond for the club and community.

Having had many reasons over the 10 years to celebrate, this award acknowledges the hard work by so many.

“The award is fantastic achievement for our club and in particular the volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure we can provide football for many different age groups from the Little

Ravens academy through to Leinster Senior level.” said John Byrne, Coaching Coordinator.

On the day, the award was presented by Sean Moore, FAI Fingal Development Officer.

In attendance at this milestone event was Barry Ferguson, FAI Regional Manager, Tom Kitt, Fingal Councillor, and Jack Chambers, Minister of State for Sport, Gaeltacht and Defence.

“I was delighted to attend the Club Mark presentation to Huntstown Hartstown Football Club.

“As a local representative, I am very aware of the incredible amount of hard work and dedication by everyone at the club that has gone into achieving this important honour.

“I know the club are fully deserving of this recognition which will benefit the whole local community and all the players and members at the club.

“As Minister for Sport, I have seen first hand the importance of the Club Mark programme and how it is benefitting football clubs all over Ireland to grow and expand with best practice in areas like governance, management and administration.

“I look forward to the club kicking on from here with its exciting plans for the future.” –

Jack Chambers – Minister of State for Sport, Gaeltacht and Defence.

An additional milestone achieved on the day was the graduation of 20 children from the clubs academy into grassroots football.

During the acceptance ceremony, Chairman Tony Lawless, expressed his graduate to the entire committee, coaches, volunteers, parents and players.

A special mention was given to Paul Breen, FAI Fingal Development Officer, who started them on this journey.

In closing Tony remarked that the club already had ambitions of obtaining the FAI Club Mark 1 Star Award.

The FAI Club Mark is free and optional for clubs and aims to:

• Improve the management of clubs ‘off the field’.
• Establish and promote best practice.
• Empower and support clubs.
• Recognise and reward clubs for achieving high standards.
• Increase a club’s capacity to operate efficiently and grow football in communities throughout Ireland.

If your club is interested in learning more about the FAI Club Mark please contact Sean Moore FAI Fingal Development Officer on (086) 083 1944 or email to sean.moore@fai.ie.