Supporters of the Royals
November 30, 2009On the way into Pairc Tailteann on match days, in all types of weather, Supporters Club members can be seen manning the car park at what used to be the swimming pool end of the Navan venue and this is just one of the ways that is utilised to raise much need money which is used for the betterment of Royal County teams.
Members of the club have a passion for Meath football and the value of their voluntary work should never be underestimated. They don't generate too many headlines for their vital contribution to the GAA in the county, but much of the effort they put in behind the scenes is of enormous benefit in generating the funds which help in the preparation of teams and in providing training gear, etc.
It's only when you sit down and take an in depth look at all that goes into training a panel of players and putting them out onto the field of play that you realise the massive cost in terms of hard cash that must go into it. That money has to come from somewhere and the Supporters Club plays a hugely important role in that regard.
Raymond Finnegan, a Dunshaughlin based solicitor with Liam Keane and Partners, is chairman of the Meath Supporters Club. He is a member of the Gaeil Colmcille club in Kells and his previous major role in the GAA was as secretary of University College Galway from 1993 to 1996. He is the only man to hold the position for three successive years.
He can vividly recall a Sigerson Cup final when University College Cork, powered on by one Seamus Moynihan from Kerry, defeated them. The UCG team, which was managed by Tony Regan, had earlier beaten Trevor Giles' UCD in a classic quarter-final after extra-time, but there was disappointment for UCG on the big day.
Raymond's brother Mick played with Gaeil Colmcille for many years and was full-back on the team which won the Senior Football Championship in 1991, beating Walterstown in the final. He is enjoying his role as chairman of the Supporters Club.
"A Supporters Club was set up way back and was thriving when Meath were going well in the late 1980s," Raymond said. "But when lean times were experienced it disappeared in the early part of this decade. It was re-established five years ago during Brendan Dempsey's term as County Committee chairman."
Raymond has been chairman during this time and witnessed the Supporters Club going from strength to strength.
"We have a membership of approximately 400 this year, but in 2007 we had about 600 when the team was going well again," he added. "When the team is going well there is huge interest in it. That makes a big difference."
It's probably only those who are actively involved with the club who know exactly what its role is but, as Raymond pointed out, it plays a very important part in the day to day task of running intercounty teams and all the expense that goes with it.
"We raise money which goes directly to the team in various guises," he said. "For example, the senior footballers went to Portugal to a training camp in 2007 and we put E10,000 into that. When they got to the All-Ireland semi-final that year we bought track suit trousers and rain gear for them. That cost us between E5,000 and E6,000.
"In 2008 we put E5,000 into the appeal to the Disputes Resolution Authority after the National League game against Dublin at Parnell Park. And last year there was an official Meath junior panel of 25 players, but the actual panel was made up of 30. The Supporters Club looked after the additional five panel members. We have full control over what we do with the money. This year we put E12,000 into the training fund."
A very popular initiative undertaken by the Supporters Club in recent years has been the 'player of the year' award which is kindly sponsored by Declan Black of Active Janitorial whose support is much appreciated by all concerned.
This was set up in 2006, with the members of the Supporters Club voting for who they think was the Royal County's best player in a given year, and the initial recipient of the award was Graham Geraghty. Darren Fay was the winner in 2008 and Stephen Bray was the successful player last year. At the time of writing preparations were being made for the 2009 presentation function and the naming of the 'player of the year' for this year.
Draws stages at various matches in Pairc Tailteann in the past proved very popular with the supporters and were also a very good money spinner for the club, but they haven't been staged of late. The reality is that it takes a sizable contingent of ticket sellers to cover the whole of Pairc Tailteann, especially when the attendance is big.
"Unfortunately, the draws fell by the wayside this year because of a lack of personnel, but we want to get them going again," Raymond explained. "You need 15 or 20 people to stage a draw. It's all about having sufficient numbers to saturate the place. The potential is there to make good money.
"We also do the car park at Pairc Tailteann. We can make E600 or E700 on match days if we have the use of the back pitch. The draw can bring in several hundred euro, depending on the number of ticket sellers you have."
The club is asking supporters to give them a couple of hours on match days by selling tickets or manning the car park in order to maximise the return they can make on big match days. Anyone interested can use the e-mail address or contact Raymond directly.
Raymond is encouraging new members to join the Supporters Club and at a very reasonable membership fee of just E25 per year the Meath fans can play their part in promoting county teams in their quest to bring honours to the Royal County.
After joining the club members receive a membership pack which contains a car sticker, a pen and a key ring, but the most rewarding thing is that they are doing their bit to make a big contribution to the running of the teams and to the welfare of the players who put so much time and effort into it all and give the supporters so much enjoyment.
"We will be putting a big push into it in the coming year," he said. "Money is tight at the moment and training costs for teams are phenomenal. The cost of gear alone is huge and the County Committee doesn't have that money. That's where we in the Supporters Club come in. I think the E25 membership fee is very good value for what you get in return."
The Supporters Club has undertaken a couple of new initiatives recently as it bids to get its message across and encourage new members to join, including a new e-mail address which is [email protected]. That should make contacting the club significantly easier.
"We are also opening our own office at the back of the stand in Pairc Tailteann," Raymond added. "It will be launched in the new year and will be manned on match days."
Those who wish to play their part in the promotion of the county teams by joining the Supporters Club can contact Raymond directly at Liam Keane and Partners in Dunshaughlin, phone (01) 8250825, contact Pairc Tailteann or use the e-mail address.
The Supporters Club expressed their gratitude to the area co-ordinators all around the county who sell memberships year after year and without whom there would be far fewer members.
The club held its annual general meeting earlier this year and the following officers were elected for 2009:
Chairman, Raymond Finnegan; vice-chairman, George King; secretary, Jack Kiernan; assistant secretary, Declan Black; joint treasurers, Jack Kiernan and Pat Clerkin; PROs, Ann Farrell, Patsy Farrell and Tony O'Brien; committee members, Mena Geraghty, Rose Moore, Jeff Sheridan, Barney Allen, Herbie Campbell and Jimmy Cudden. Tweet
