FAI Club of the Year 2017

The FAI has launched the search for the 2017 Club of the Year. The competition is open to all football clubs across the country.  Eight clubs will be shortlisted for the coveted award. Each will receive €1,500 and the overall winner will be given an additional €5,000 and entry to UEFA’s Grassroots Awards Under ‘’Best Grassroots Club’’.  The FAI Club of the Year 2017 aims to recognize, celebrate and promote the inspirational work done by clubs around Ireland.

Martin O’Neill, Ireland International Manager, said; “The Club of the Year award is extremely important to clubs all over the country and to the communities around these clubs.  If you take the current Ireland squad, a third of those have come from Irish clubs and we need to nurture that. So, I want all clubs, big or small, to get involved.” 

The Club of the Year competition is in its 12^th year and is open to any club to enter free of charge.  Overall, in excess of €160,000 has been awarded to club’s country wide.  Clubs can enter through an online application form that allows them to highlight how their club excels in the areas of, Club Management, Coaching, Community, Participation, and Facilities. Previous winners Shiven Rovers (2016) and Achill Rovers (2015) both won out by demonstrating a massive collective effort from people across their communities in promoting and developing their club. The FAI Club of the Year competition is not just about the biggest club, or the club with the best facilities but it’s about clubs that inspire their communities to get involved in football.

The best 8 clubs will go forward to the final round at the FAI Festival of Football in July. Here they will present to the 2017 Club of the Year judging panel and the winners will be decided.

To enter, please visit www.fai.ie/cluboftheyear .

Applications close on the 12/05/2017