The You’re A Champ competition, organised by the Midlands Regional Youth Service, celebrated its 10th year of teamwork, youth participation, and fun last Friday.
Ten teams took part in You’re A Champ 2013 in Gentex Football Club in Athlone, including Acorn Project, Edenderry; ALF Project, Athlone; Athlone Youth and Community Project; Mullingar Youth Project; St Mary’s Youth Centre, Tullamore; and Tullamore Youth Project. As this was the 10th anniversary of the Midlands Regional Youth Service annual competition, it was celebrated in style.
Each team was assigned a country which they represented on the day, and worked together to design jerseys and a banner to represent their country. The best banner and best jerseys were judged by Jackie Flannery, chairperson, Midlands Regional Youth Service, with the Acorn Project in Edenderry winning the best jersey competition, and Athlone Youth and Community Project the banner competition.
In the soccer tournament, team Germany beat team Belgium in the final, while the teams also took part in off-pitch activities including a crossbar challenge, fun shot, and perfect shot.
The Fair Play Award was won by team Portugal from Willow Park in Athlone.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event, teams were awarded points for each of the activities, and the overall winners of You’re A Champ were awarded the Noel Mulligan Perpetual Trophy. The late Noel Mulligan was one of the founders of the You’re A Champ competition and a longstanding volunteer with Midlands Regional Youth Service.
This competition was won by team Germany from Battery Heights in Athlone and the prizes were presented by Noel’s wife Margaret, sons Eoin and Conor, and daughter Niamh. Midlands Regional Youth Service would like to extend a huge thank you to the Mulligan family for joining them on the day.
They would like to thank referees Darren Greene and Noel Parkes, St Peter’s Football Club, Brendan McManus Oil, Gentex Football Club, and all the young people and youth workers who took part.
For further information, Midlands Regional Youth Service can be contacted at (090 ) 6477075.
