Springfield Ramblers Player of the Year Awards Season 2010/11

U12 Premier League Champions

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

At the end of the most successful season in the history of the club Springfield Ramblers Schoolboys Football Club held their annual Player of the Year awards on Wednesday June 1st in the Commodore Hotel. Special invited guest on the evening was long time member of Springfield AFC Mick O’Connor.

Club chairman Cathal Rasmussen chaired the ceremony and said it was his pleasure to welcome everyone to the ceremony. He said that this is the time when as a club we can all relax and enjoy the successes from all the hard work put in by so many people throughout the season. And what a season, he said we have had both on and off the field. Cathal also welcomed Alan Smith who is home on holidays. Alan has recently signed for Glasgow Rangers and Cathal wished him well with his career. He also welcomed Dave Bell FAI Regional Development Officer. Dave and Alan kindly presented the awards during the ceremony. Cathal also welcomed Michael O’Connor who was involved in Springfield for many years and is a club trustee and great supporter of schoolboy football in Cobh.

U15 Div 1 Runners-Up

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

Cathal continued by saying that this time last year he challenged all in the club to go to the next step on the ladder to success and to win trophies. He is, he said, delighted and honoured by what he saw before him on Wednesday night. Overall the club have had a great year and all our teams have performed well, Cathal said. He continued to say that the club is very pleased with all of the team’s performances, but those teams who did particularly well were entitled to a special mention on the night.

The Under 11 Division 2 team were so unlucky and just missed out on promotion the previous night to the First Division and Cathal congratulated coaches Paul Roche, Mick Nolan, Ger Burns and Tom McCarthy and of course all the children on their efforts.

The Under 12 Premier League team under Steve Quinlan, Eoin O’Sullivan and Con Brierly, Cathal said will always be remembered as the team to lift the first schoolboy league title for the club when they won the Premier League a few weeks ago. They were also beaten cup semi finalists.

He went on to say that the Under 16 Premier League team under Niall Abbott, Frank Collins and Mossie O’Mahony had had a great season indeed. The team finished runners up in the Premier League, were beaten cup semi finalists and again created history of their own by winning the Under 16 SFAI Barry Cup in Dublin by beating Belvedere 1 nil in the final. This, Cathal said was some achievement and one that has firmly put the club up there with the top clubs in the country.

U16 National Cup Winners

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

The chairman then continued to congratulate the Under 15 team who finished runners up in Division 1 and were promoted and extended his congratulations to coaches Steve Cronin and Shane Cournane. The Under 16 Division 4 team finished 3rd and were also promoted. Cathal himself was manager of this team and he thanked assistants Eamonn Doyle, Vince Downing and Donal O’Driscoll for all their work and support over the past 3 years. The remaining Under 11s, Under 13s and Under 14s all finished fourth and fifth in their sections and Cathal congratulated the managers and coaches.

Cathal then continued to pay tribute to the club players who had represented the club at Cork level and at International level. This year as always the club continued to do well with sixteen players representing the club at Cork level and two players playing for the Irish team. Cathal wished the best of luck to Jordan Tarrant Lowry and George Gill as they will be playing with the Cork Kennedy cup team in Limerick in June.

He congratulated Cathal O’Hanlon from the Under 14 team for playing in goal for Cork and helping them to win the Munster Cup and of course their success in winning the All Ireland Cup the previous week. He had had a starring role in the match last week and was then awarded Cork Schoolboys League Player of the year at Under 14 level. Cathal capped off a great season by playing for Ireland twice this year.

U14 Cork Representatives

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

Cathal then paid tribute to two of our senior players, Jason Abbott and Adam Thompson who both played for the Cork Under 16 team that won both the Munster Cup and again won the All Ireland Under 16 Cup last weekend. Jason, he said, in fact was the captain of the team and again had a huge influence in Cork winning both cups. His season was complete by also representing his country.

Cathal finished this section of the ceremony by saying well done to all the players who have played for the club and representative teams this season. He said how proud he was of all the players and he looked forward to continued success next season. He reminded all of the players that football is a team sport and while we honour certain players tonight all should remember that without the support and skill of all the players around you in the team the winning of these awards tonight would not be possible.

He paid particular tribute to the coaches of all the teams who give of their time voluntarily throughout a long season. The club he said was immensely grateful to all the parents for their help in assisting the coaches during the year especially for the provision of transport for the players to away games. He repeated his message that the club officers and coaches work on a voluntary basis and though sometimes things don’t go as planned everyone does their best for the children and the club. On that note Cathal then paid tribute to Under 14 manager John Gardiner who has decided that due to work and other commitments to take a break from managing a team. John he said has been involved with the club for many years both on and off the committee. He was instrumental in the formation of the club and his commitment could never be denied. Cathal then called on the Under 14 team goalkeeper Cathal O’Hanlon to make a presentation to John on behalf of the team. Cathal also made a presentation to John on behalf of the club to thank him for all his efforts over the past years.

Cathal then reiterated that for the club to operate and be successful it needs a good and hard working committee. This year he said had been a long and tough but successful year for all. The club he said had opened the new Astroturf pitch last October and it has been a huge success. The children are benefitting from a regular and high standard of coaching as a result and if matches are cancelled they can train at the weekends. He firmly believed he said that one of the reasons for the club’s success this season besides all of the hard work is the new training facility. The Official Opening ceremony of the new facility had recently taken place and despite the bad weather all had a super day. He thanked all involved and apologised to all those who got wet and had to wait around. The committee indeed he said are due a huge debt of thanks. These are the people that are steering the club in the right direction and already with the season barely over are making plans for next season. He extended his thanks to all for the hard work and support over the last year. They are John Coughlan, Kieran O’Callaghan, Frank Collins, Niall Abbott, Anthony Donovan, Willie O’Hanlon the MC for the night, Maeve Griffin, Veronica Foley and finally Wim VanWijnen. Wimmie he said has been on the committee since the start of the club and has looked after the annual draw, playing gear and equipment and also sourced all the trophies for the ceremony on the night. Wimmie he said has decided to resign from the committee and to return to help out with coaching and Cathal wished him well for the future. He also thanked him for all his work and support over the last few years and then presented Wimmie with a token of the club’s appreciation.

Cathal then thanked all of the club sponsors Cobh Credit Union, Carley’s Electrical, Supermacs, Ray and Maura Keating, Ray Mills, Fanatics, Springfield Football Club, Cobh Ramblers Schoolboys Club and Cobh Ramblers Supporters club. He encouraged all members to try and support all businesses in Cobh and especially all those who sponsor the club. Cathal said he was delighted to announce that the club has agreed a new three year shirt sponsorship deal and expressed the club’s thanks to Cobh Tyre Mart, Cobh Credit Union, Hayes Cabins and Derek in Fanatics for this support. The new strip was on show on the night and will be used by all the club’s competitive teams next season.

He also extended the club’s thanks to the local media Great Island Community News, Inside Cobh and Cobh Edition for all the brilliant reports they give the club week in and week out. He expressed his sincere thanks to Pat O’Shea and the staff of the Commodore Hotel for making the Jack Doyle room available and for sponsoring the room on the night.

U13 Cork Representatives

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

Cathal concluded by saying the Springfield Ramblers Schoolboys Club is a club that is going places on and off the field and the building of the Astroturf pitch is only phase one of the club’s plans. The club he said is actively looking at other possibilities for additional pitches and facilities and that he was hopeful that the club will have news to report shortly. He finished by saying well done to everybody for a great season, to enjoy the break and come back fresh to ensure that this year’s success will be built on next season.

There then followed the main reason for the gathering that evening with the presentation of the Player of the Year awards. Though all the players deserve huge credit for their commitment and performances throughout the year it is traditional to reward some of the players who have made outstanding contributions to their respective teams’ cause. To this end the coaches of each team select players in three categories to receive awards at the end of each season. These are: Player of the Year, Clubman of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year. These were awarded as follows:

League & Cup Success

It was a hugely successful season for the club on the field of play. The Under 12 Premier League Team became the first team from the new club to win a league title and also reached the semi-final of the Cork Cup. The Under 16 Premier League Team achieved runners up position in the league title race, reached the semi-final of the Cork Cup and created history by becoming the first team from the club to win a National Cup competition when they won the Under 16 SFAI Barry Cup. The Under 15 First Division Team and the Under 16 Division 4 Team achieved promotion from their respective leagues by finishing second and third respectively.

Cork Schoolboys Representatives

More success was garnered for the club in the form of players representing the club at Cork Schoolboys Level as follows:

• Under 11 level;

Raymond Roche.

• Under 12 level;

Adam Horgan, Dave Coffey, Charlie Fleming, Adam O’Sullivan, Neil Harte, Niall Abbott.

• Under 13 level;

Ryan Scanlon, Jordan Tarrant, George Gill.

• Under 14 level & Emerging Talent;

Cathal O’Hanlon, Sean McLoughlin, James Stoat.

• Under 16 level & Emerging Talent;

Jason Abbott, Adam Thompson, Daniel Santry.

All players who achieved representative status received awards from the club.

International Honours

Further honour was bestowed on the club when two of our players achieved the honour of being selected to play for the Republic of Ireland Squads. Jason Abbott was selected at Under 16 level and Cathal O’Hanlon was selected at Under 14 level. The club extends its congratulations to these players in achieving this great honour for themselves, their families and the Springfield Ramblers Club.

All players who achieved representative status received awards from the club.

Special Club Awards

There were three special Club Awards during the ceremony. These were:

• The Pat O’Brien Award for outstanding commitment to the club ethos by a player during the year. This was presented to Jason Abbott.

• The Club person of the Year Award was presented jointly to Maeve Griffin and Veronica Foley for their outstanding contributions to the running of the Club throughout the year particularly for their management of the Club Academy which has gone from strength to strength under their stewardship and is borne out by the huge numbers of young boys and girls attending the training sessions on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

• The Hall of Fame Award. This prestigious award was presented to Mick O’Connor, long time servant of Springfield AFC. The club extends its thanks to Mick and his wife Ann for attending the ceremony.

In presenting the award John Coughlan quoted Matt Busby’s words “for a club to be successful it must have a history to reflect on”. John continued his introduction of Mick by saying that the Springfield Ramblers has been immersed in schoolboy’s football since 1959 and that the club can look back on a successful history and in doing so identify many people who have left an impression on its achievements.

The winner of the award this season he said is a person who has played for the club and had a major input into its development. He has served in various positions over the years and is presently a trustee of Springfield.

In 1975 Michael was the main driver in re-organising the club and approached various people to become involved in schoolboy’s football. To quote the late John Murphy “he would always be grateful to Mick O’Connor for getting him involved in schoolboy’s football. From a starting point of three teams prior to 1975 the club entered six teams in that season winning two trophies. He has seen the schoolboys section develop to its present state and is a constant support to the club.

As a forward thinking person he was behind the club purchasing Pat O’Brien Park in 1977 and with the continued development of the facility. To the present day Mick has supported the way the club has moved forward and is always at hand to give advice.

Skills Awards

Further awards were presented as follows:

• Schoolboys Overall Top Goalscorer:             Adam Horgan.

• Schoolboys Most Clean Sheets: Dave Coffey & Ryan Scanlon.

• Life 93FM Man of the Match:                                    Rob Hughes.

All photographs of the night are here: http://cobhedition.com/?page_id=823&album=4&gallery=11

www.springfieldramblers.ie

springrams@gmail.com

[nggallery id=11]