It has been, by any stretch of the imagination, a remarkabkle year for domestic soccer in this country and scarcely have Galway United supporters endured a closing game scenario as last Friday night. The huge crowd — estimated to be about 600 — who travelled to the Belfield Bowl gave United a huge lift on the field as Premier Division status was secured with a point to spare after a closing series of games which saw six wins, three draws and a solitary loss in the final ten matches.

The introduction this season of so many young local players gives great hope for the future and the joint ventures being established with the Galway & District League and the recently formed Galway Football Partnership — which represents all soccer stakeholders including womens football, referees, schools, colleges etc — are also cause for a lot of optimism.

It is vital that players with potential have a platform in Galway to emerge on to the national scene and if they are good enough they will go further afield.

The social and community aspect of an entity like Galway United should not be underestimated and in a trying economic climate it will take goodwill from all quarters to ensure the potential is realised.

A new era dawns
A new era is dawning for Galway hurling with the appointment of Ger Loughnane’s successor. There was a fear that the division which have sprung up in Galway hurling in recent years would cast a serious and bitter shadow on the process of finding a new manager. Fair play then to County Board chairman Gerry Larkin who has handled the process with some skill, ensuring that eight nominations, all of them worthy candidates, got the opportunity to state their claim for the job.

Hopefully now a new era can dawn for Galway hurling and that unquestioned and undivided loyalty can be given to those in charge of our teams to ensure that the famine at senior level does not go on any longer.

ON THIS DATE: 19th November 1969: Pele scored for the 1000th goal of his career during a game for his club Santos against Vasco da Gama. The goal, a penalty, was greeted with jubilation all round the ground — the Vasco de Gama goalkeeper peeled off his jersey to reveal a shirt which bore the message congratulating Pele on his achievement!

THEY SAID IT . . . ‘If you’re in the penalty area and don’t know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we’ll discuss the options later’ — Liverpool boss Bob Paisley, who won fourteen major titles including three European Cups in his nine years in charge, keeps it simple.

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