CLOUGHMILLS BOYS AND GIRLS FOOTBALL CLUB MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

The club was founded in September 2001 by Donal Martin and Ian Getty.

In the beginning we had an under 11 boys team.

In the first year the club had 24 players.

In January 2002 due to demand from the young people of the area we set up an under 16 girls team which had 15 players.

The under 11 boys take part in the Friendship League at the Joey Dunlop Centre on a Friday evening from September to March.

The club now have children joining from other villages which has helped our numbers and spread the name of the club.

The club was honoured in January 2009 to win the Sports Category in the Ballymoney Borough Council’s Good Relations Programme. We also received a Special Recognition Award in the Ballymoney Times Awards 2010.

In September 2004 the club was saddened to hear of the death of Pauline McDonald a talented member of the girls team.

Each year in memory of Pauline the club run a ladies five-a-side football tournament with the money raised being donated to various different charities. To date the club has raised £2,244.

During the summer months the club run five-a-side tournaments and organise trips for the players.

The club is a cross community organisation which holds various events to raise the funds necessary to keep going.

The football club is marking 10 years and would like to thank all past and present committee members who give their time, the players, our sponsors Label One and Frank Carey School of Motoring, The Golden Oldies, Cloughmills Community Action Team, The Cloughmills Northern Ireland Supports Club, the principals and staff of our two local primary schools, and our local businesses who are always extremely generous with raffle prizes.

As part of our 10 year celebrations the club is holding a fun day on Saturday 17 September from 1pm to 4pm in Cloughmills Primary School.

Admission: £3 adults £2 children.

Activities on the day will include stalls in the school, King of the Castle will provide entertainment for the children, barbecue, Harry’s Ices.

A gala evening has been organised for Saturday 24 September, tickets sold out.