CFC Academy reflects on another successful year

Those attending heard from the Academy President, John Mairs, CFC Chairman Colin McKendry, Academy Chairman Andy Alcorn and the guest of honour, MLA Claire Sugden.

Independant MLA Claire Sugden said Coleraine FC was the heart of the town and praised all that they were doing in the community to emphasise this.

Oran Kearney echoed this and declared his delight in seeing the prevalence of Coleraine kit as he travels around locally. He told the young players how important it was to have locally based players coming through over the next few years and challenged them to make the life decisions that could see them progress.

Individual team coaches told how their squads had performed over the past season, naming individual awards for merit and players of the year as well as the various achievements and trophies that the teams had collected over the season.

Academy Chairman Andy Alcorn passed praise to over ninety volunteers from all walks of life who dedicate their time to the coaching, development and running of the Academy. He promised that the Academy would keep raising the bar and strive to put in place all that is required to support them in the development of their players, giving the example of the recent refurbishment of the Academy room into an educational suite with supporting technology, including the video analysis equipment that was used at the Showgrounds during the community week.

He explained how the securing of charitable status has and will increasingly support the community development plans of Coleraine Football Club. The Academy’s administration of the local youth league and the huge success of the mini soccer centre at Ballysally is evidence of this. The combined weekly count of the Academy and NWCDYL Facebook pages regularly hits 10.000, The Academy’s website http://www.colerainefcacademy.com/ has developed into one of the most active youth soccer sites in the country.

Thanks were also passed to the various sponsors who have supported the Academy this season and to the players, parents and guardians whose contribution are vital. The Coleraine FC Academy committee would personally like to thank the senior club for all the support that they have given. They also acknowledge the vital provision of the facilities of the Coleraine Borough Council and the University Of Ulster.

The Academy would like to invite all interested parties whether they are additional sponsors, coaches, players or volunteers to come join in the experience that is the Coleraine FC Academy. Contact can be made via the Academy facebook page, email at [email protected] or by contacting any current member. Details of the coming season and trial dates for the Foyle Cup Squads will follow in local press or contact can be made through the academy website.

Meanwhile, the winning numbers in this week’s Coleraine FC Lottery were 3, 5, 18 and 22. There was no winner so the jackpot is now £3,600. The McLernon family won the £50 draw and George Stinson won the £25 draw.