Blues - Waterford United FC Programme v Finn Harps Friday 25th April 2014 | Page 3
Welcome To The RSC
by Chairman John O’Sullivan
Hello everyone, and welcome to the
RSC for tonight’s SSE Airtricity League
tie with Finn Harps. I’d like to extend
a warm Waterford welcome to the
officials, players, staff and supporters
of Finn Harps FC, and to add my best
wishes for the future to outgoing Harps
chairman Joey O’Leary who stepped
down at the end of last season..
So the second series has come around already, and we again
face the side against which we opened our campaign back
at the start of March. Finn Harps always
provide a great game of football, and
I’ve no doubt tonight will be no different.
It was great to finally get our first three
points of the league last weekend
against Shamrock Rovers. It was a hardfought win, but it’s been long overdue
on our performances to date, where
we’ve made plenty of chances but only
now began turning them into goals
and wins. Hopefully we can keep that
going tonight, though it will be a very
tough game.
Many congratulations to the players
who made the final four for our Under
19 Player of the Year award last
Friday, and especially to the winner
Andrew O’Connor. The U19 set-up
has been a huge success for us, with
another excellent season in terms of
competitiveness, style of football and
player development, and well done
once again to everyone involved, right
the way through the set-up.
If you or your firm are interested in helping out with
sponsorship of any kind please do not hesitate to contact the
club office or any of the management committee. Also, anyone
interested in coming on board in any capacity to help out with
the running of the club, please do get in contact, we always
need help to keep the show on the road!
On that note, we are also asking
everyone here tonight, and as many
fans of the club as we can, to please
take some tickets for the big Barcelona
draw away with them, at least five –
maybe ten if they can manage it, and
sell them on on our behalf, spreading
the word beyond the range of those
interested in the League of Ireland.
This is our first big fundraising drive
this year, and it’s just vital that we
maximise our return, as at the end of
the day only revenue income will keep
the club going against such a relentless
outpouring of costs required to run a
League club. For just €8 per ticket, or
three for €20, there is a brilliant prize
of flights, accommodation and match
tickets to a Barcelona match from the
2014/15 season at the Nou Camp,
a must for all fans of football, and
even for those that are not, as it is a
Gary from Michael Crowe Carpets,
Flooring & Bedding presenting the match wonderful city. All help we can get
ball to Brian Gardiner & yours truly
with the sale of these tickets will be
photo : Brendan White
gratefully received!
It was lovely too to have the great Dixie
Hale at the RSC as guest of honour to present the award to
Andrew, wonderful to witness a legend of one of the greatest
ever Waterford sides of the 1950s at the home of the Blues,
passing the baton as it were to one of the potential Blues stars
of the future. Lovely also to see Brian Gardiner at the game
last weekend, the goalscoring hero of the 1980 FAI Cup win.
It’s always good to have old friends of the club at the RSC,
and long may it continue!
A huge thank you to Michael Crowe Carpets, Flooring &
Bedding for their generous support as ball sponsor for the
www.waterford-united.ie
Rovers game last weekend, and to Gary who was there
in attendance to present the ball on the night. This kind of
support from such excellent local firms is truly vital to keep
League football in Waterford, and it’s hugely appreciated
by all at the club.
And that said, all that remains is to get behind the lads, let’s
be as loud and as colourful as we can, to help them towards
another three points tonight!
Best of luck Blues!
John
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