Paddy’s Day As Munster Soccer Appoints New Vice-Chairman
BY Christy Parker
James Tobin, Chairman Munster Football Association, congratulating Paddy Pollard on his election as Vice-Chairman of Munster FAI.
Youghal’s soccer community will note with satisfaction that a familiar face has assumed the Vice Chairmanship of the Munster Football Association. Lismore’s Paddy Pollard was elected to the post at the association’s AGM in Rochestown last week. Paddy spent his professional life as a carpet maker here, while dedicating his free time to playing and promoting the game that “means everything” to him.
His elevation after nine years as a committee member bestows a unique sporting double on Lismore, with the town’s Jimmy O’Gorman currently the GAA Chairman of the Munster Council. Paddy will become Chairman of his Munster authority in two years time, just as Jimmy’s term subsides.
That his election was unanimous is an appropriate reflection of Paddy’s ability, dedication and love for a game that is not always beautiful. In an era when monumental egos and salaries are synonymous with the soccer, he serves to remind that every star set out with a flickering dream and every dream would quickly die without someone as selfless as Paddy Pollard to nurture it.
His administrative talents first emerged whilst still a player. In 1972, he and the late Tony Bolger, also from Lismore, formed a four-team league, comprising Youghal, Lismore, Stradbally and Modeligo, sponsored by Murphy’s Brewery. A brave centre forward, Spurs fan Paddy would score four of the five goals in which Lismore beat Youghal away in a decider to claim the first title.
That league would evolve through the Red House to become eventually the WWEC (West Waterford/East Cork) League in 1984, which is fully affiliated to the Munster Football Association. Now League Secretary, as Chairman for 30 years Paddy saw the league grow to stretch from Ballmacrbery to Ballymacoda, across two divisions and three cup competitions. His pride is unbridled as he reveals, “We have 22 Junior level teams, five at youth level, plus schoolboys and women’s teams. That’s over 900 players. We also compete in the inter-league Oscar Traynor’s Cup and other competitions.”
Inherently positive, Junior football is his passion and Paddy would “love to see every team in the WWEC League own its own ground and facilities, including all-weather pitch and floodlights.” Presently only two enjoy that status but “we are working towards it, through various sports grants, etc,” he says.
He believes Junior soccer is progressing well in Munster overall. “The FAI’s scheme to appoint Regional Development Officers has been fantastic. Our own league’s RDO, Michael Looby is doing trojan work, especially with organising coaches and coaching programmes for clubs. The benefits are just starting to come through and standards and organisation in every club are improving immensely.”
However, he is also aware of a negative aspect, one that is becoming increasingly evident across all sporting codes. “Players are less inclined to stay in the sport after 16. They want to play Friday nights instead of Sundays too, so they can have the weekend off for other things.”
Married to Mitchelstown woman Delia and father of four grown children, he grew up in an era in which his county side, Waterford FC, was in its heyday. Though unimaginable now, the club provided players like Alfie Hale and goalkeeper Peter Thomas for the national side. “Alfie was my hero,” he recalls smilingly. “I have always loved the League of Ireland,” he proceeds, “and have great friendships from way back in the days when the League was thriving.” Since 2006 he has enjoyed a more active connection with the national league, as an FAI match delegate. “I absolutely love it,” he says, positively glowing at his good fortune.
While Paddy easily bridges the gap between Junior and National League soccer, the players, ironically seem less inclined to do so. “A lot of good players prefer to stay in Junior football. They prefer to play more regularly and with less training than to be in a League of Ireland side where they could just end up on the bench a lot.”
There won’t be much sitting around done by Paddy who, after 48 years in the game, still radiates the enthusiasm of a nine year-old being asked if he’d like to play in the team. “I’ll be more involved with Munster soccer than ever now,” he muses. “There will be a lot more travelling and so on.” Wherever he goes, the game is in good hands travelling with him. Now Mr. Trapottoni, do you want someone to have a word with Stephen Ireland?….
Related Stories
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
* All comments are moderated before publishing.No comments yet.
Leave a comment