Newry Gateway attend Geneva football tournament

Every year football clubs from Northern Ireland attend a European tournament in Geneva Switzerland and every year local footballers from Newry Gateway are selected as part of the squad. This year was no exception as gateway clubs from Newry, Downpatrick, Carrickfergus, Lisburn and Belfast made up the squad and five players from Newry Gateway were selected.

Defenders Desmond McAllister, Andrew McMahon, midfielders Hugh O’Gorman, Sean O’Gorman and striker Matthew Collins were the lucky locals selected. Newry Gateway football coaches Kevin McAteer and John Cunningham, who coach both the Newry Gateway and FC United of Northern Ireland teams, were also in attendance.

Coach Kevin McAteer spoke to Newry Times and stated, “The tournament itself was well organised and was great fun for both players and coaches, it was a great experience for all and a great opportunity for our players who have done themselves, their families, their club and their country proud. A lot of hard work has gone into the Newry Gateway football team over the years and considering Newry Gateway Club was the first Special Olympics club in Newry it is paying off.”

Kevin continued, “With the tournament in Geneva being an annual event alongside the Irish Football League, Community Cup, Newry Gateway Champions League, Newry Gateway Super League and the newly developed Lillie McCaul Cup and Paul Murtagh Shield organised by the Newry Gateway club themselves,it seems this football team has a very busy sporting calendar every year.”

John Cunningham, who is a coach within the club,  said “A lot of hard work is done throughout the year to ensure our footballers get the opportunities to play football at the highest level, this is seen throughout the year through the weekly training sessions and all the competitions they are involved in. Newry Gateway club takes a lot of pride in its football team and does what it can to give its members the opportunities they deserve to fulfill their potential through the game of football and the tournament in Geneva was one such opportunity.”

He added, “Also the management committee would like to thank all those who helped raise funds which enabled the team go to Geneva.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jun 2 2012. Filed under Community, Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry