The rise of Knocknacarra FC’s underage set-up continues. What started at McGrath’s Field 25 years ago or so has transformed into a hugely successful operation. Every Saturday morning at Cappagh Park during the football season is packed with action.
That is a source of real pride and optimism for those heavily involved. Gerry Carroll was Knocknacarra’s chairman for several years and throughly enjoys watching the club prosper. “It has been a great opportunity to get to know the locality, there is a big community spirit in the club,” Carroll says.
“We have in excess of 1,000 children down there at this stage. When I got involved approximately eight years ago we had about 300 children, we had a grass pitch in Cappagh Park that we were leasing off the council. It has grown from there.”
On the field of play Knocknacarra is now one of the most respected clubs locally in the juvenile ranks. “Over the last few years, all our boys' teams are in the premier divisions now which was unheard of previously,” Carroll says.
“We are challenging up at the top end of the table with most of these teams. Our girls football has been a phenomenal success. We had no girls' team maybe six years ago and now we have in excess of 300 girls' playing football now. That ranges from the age of three or four up to 19 which is the oldest girl in the club. We are really building, we have U19 girls, U17, U15, U13 and we actually have four teams at U12 which is fabulous for the club.
“Our girls at U19 have maybe another year, then they will be into the adult game. That is the intention going forward to have an adult ladies' team in the club. It is good for the club, it is good for the community. That is what the club is all about, building our community.
“We are lucky to have a chairman in John Reilly, who is a school principal. He has high standards, he expects good things from all of the children, and sets good example which is very important.”
Carroll highlights the efforts of so many, who delivered vital contributions enabling Knocknacarra to improve throughout the years.
“Every club is built on sound foundations,” Carroll states. “We were very lucky that the foundations were very much in place by the likes of David Connolly, Clare Healy, Gerry Corbett, Matteo Menarini, Brian Cotter, Jimmy Nolan, Bart Barrett - all people involved in soccer for a long, long time in Galway. These foundations were put in place for us.
“Paul Kelly is a very important person in the club, he is the secretary. He has been chairman on four separate occasions, he is the club secretary since I was there, an unbelievable guy in Galway soccer. It goes unseen really the work he does in the club, that is the organisation side of the club.”
The links forged with Salthill-Knocknacarra are crucial according to Carroll. “I believe our club marries in with our local GAA club,” he says.
“There would be arrangements that the children play all the sports and that they enjoy all of the sports. Salthill-Knocknacarra is our local GAA club and it is fantastic to see the children changing from one jersey to the other, but still representing their local community.”
The return to juvenile action is edging closer too which brings both a challenge and also some fun.
“We are kicking off again on September 11,” Carroll says. “The joy on those childrens faces on a Saturday morning. Under 10 years of age, to have 500 kicking soccer balls around, parents enjoying it. The sense of community, the building of the community in Knocknacarra, I think the club has been a key component in that.”
**Listen to the full interview with Gerry Carroll on this week’s ‘Cian on Sport’ podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple podcasts.
