LOCAL SCHOOLS GET FREE COACHING

Monaghan United FC have been in a position to offer 3 schools in Monaghan town a free soccer coach for a programme within their schools. St Louis Girls National School, The Model School and St Mary’s Boys National School have availed of the extra help from Monaghan United in bringing football and fitness to their schools.


Coach giving them instructions

Coach David Kerr has been working with the schools to bring football fun to the pupils and encourage them to get out and play more football.


David warms them up!

On Tuesday, 2 classes from St Mary’s Boys school had the added bonus of Monaghan United Senior Manager Mick Cooke dropping in to have a chat with them about the importance of working hard at school and at football. He told them that if they wished to follow in the footsteps of past pupils like Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Aaron McCarey or League of Ireland Mons legend Paul Whelan, they need to work hard and do what their coach tells them to do.


Mick gives them footballing advice

He invited the boys and girls of Monaghan to come to the Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues on Sunday mornings and told them of the upcoming open day (February 21st) where they will get a chance to meet Monaghan United’s squad and train with them. The senior players will take a squad of juvenile players to mentor for the year and the children will be brought in to meet the players in the dressing room prior to games with a lucky boy or girl getting selected each week to be mascot.


Mick tells another 3rd class the importance of training hard

Mick is determined that any child who wishes to play football at Monaghan United will be supported and mentored by a Senior player to encourage their development and help produce more talent for the future Monaghan United League of Ireland teams.




VEC FREE KICK START ONE COURSE

Monaghan VEC are holding a Kick Start One Course on Saturday 13th February at Monaghan United's Regional Development Centre. This course is free but there are a limited number of places so booking is essential.

For more information download flyer here Click here to download this file


SANTA ARRIVES EARLY AT MONAGHAN SCHOOLS
Monaghan United’s Club Promotions and School Liaison Officer, Julie-Ann Sherlock felt a lot like the man in the red suit when she arrived at schools in County Monaghan in the last few days. Julie-Ann was delivering a big football net bag with 20 quality footballs and 20 bibs to 5 schools in the Monaghan area who had participated fully in the National Dairy Council/Football Association of Ireland “Just Milk It” programme.

This programme was run in conjunction with Town of Monaghan Co-op and Monaghan United delivered the programme to schools in the area in the past year, with some visits still ongoing. The recipients of the football equipment were selected on the basis that over 35% of their pupils were in the School Milk Programme and they were fully committed to promoting the benefits and necessity of having at least 3 portions of dairy a day as part of a balance diet. Schools in the 2nd part of the scheme who achieve over 35% consumption will be receiving similar football equipment packs in the new year.


Principal Hugh McMahon, staff members and pupils of St Mary's Boys NS, Monaghan recieve their football equipment.


Monaghan Model Schools principal Isabel Adams and 5th & 6th class accept the gift of 20 footballs, 20 bibs and a bag.


Principal Margaret Cassidy and 5th & 6th Class pupils from Gransha NS recieve their new footballs, bibs and bag from the FAI, NDC, Town of Monaghan Co-op and Monaghan United FC


Majella Beggan, principal and pupils from 6th class in St Tiernach's NS, Clones are presented with their new footballs, bibs and bag by Monaghan United's Julie-Ann Sherlock.


St Mary's Clontibret's principal, Elizabeth Moorhead and 5th & 6th class are presented with new football equipment.


KINGSPAN CENTURY PARK HOSTS SPECIAL OLYPMICS TOURNAMENT

Kingspan Century Park played host to a Special Olympics Ireland Women’s Football event on Saturday the 26th of September. Over 60 women on 9 teams from around the country took part in the 5-a-side blitz with games kicking off at 11am following a parade of teams onto the pitch.



The event was supported by Monaghan United FC and the FAI through their “Football for All” programme. Also, the commitment of the volunteers involved in the organisation of the event ensured it is a most enjoyable day for all involved. Special thanks to FAI Monaghan County Development Officer John Crudden and all at Monaghan United FC for helping make the day a success.



Special Olympics Ireland provides year round training and competition opportunities for people with Intellectual disabilities. Over 11,000 athletes participate in 12 sports through 431 clubs throughout the island of Ireland, these are supported by 18,000 volunteers. Of these there are 126 athletes in 5 Affiliated Groups in County Monaghan. These Groups are supported by 139 volunteers.



To get involved with Special Olympics either as an athlete or as a volunteer contact the Ulster regional Office on 028 9023 9023 or Special Olympics Ireland on 01 8823972.









MONAGHAN UNITED "JUST MILK IT" PROGRAMME



Monaghan United's School Liaison Officer Julie-Ann Sherlock visited Scoile Cholmcille, Blackstaff, Carrickmacross, Ballynarry NS, Ballyheen, Co. Cavan, Latnamard NS, Aghabog and Magherarney NS, Smithboro in the past few days and took some photos of the children with their NDC/FAI goody bags:


Latnamard NS, Smithboro


Scoile Mhuire, Magherarney


Scoile Colmcille, Blackstaff




The Monaghan United FC Africa Day 2009 event was very successful with a large crowd of children and adults enjoying the day. Families from St Patrick’s Accommodation Centre and various parts of Monaghan enjoyed the sunshine at Kingspan Century Park with the children playing in a fun football blitz.



After the football, some great African music and delicious food was presented to the attendees and performances from the Monaghan Kingdom Church Gospel Choir and dancing by some of the children was enjoyed by all.



The event was part funded by Irish Aid Section at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Monaghan United FC would like to thank them and the Kingdom Church, St Patrick’s Accommodation Centre, coaches Euan Treanor and Mark Sellinger, Stella @ All In One African Shop for all their help on the day.