Exciting days for Inchicore Athletic
By Hayden Moore
ALMOST a half century since its establishment Inchicore Athletic FC are steadfast on their commitment to continue contributing to the community.
The club, which was established in 1972, has benefitted greatly from Dublin City Council’s regeneration of Inchicore.
Inchicore Athletic All Weather facility
In 2019, a state of the art all-weather 3G floodlit pitch was installed at Bernard Curtis Park and it became the catalyst for the club to refocus all its efforts in providing a sporting outlet for the community.
“We are planning celebrations for next year. We’ll be 50 years old and we have totally undertaken a root and branch review of Inchicore Athletic,” club public relations officer, Finbarr Dolan told The Echo.
“There has been a regeneration of Inchicore and we’re part of that. Since the pitch went in we haven’t had a single scrap of litter left behind or anything, the community support has been fantastic.
“We are building a fantastic Academy and we have no intention of linking in like other clubs are. We’re totally community-based.
“Our whole focus in on providing football for the communities of Inchicore, Bluebell, Ballyfermot, for people of all levels and abilities.”
Under development officer Ger Marshall and Academy coaching coordinator Alan O’Brien, the club have quickly established an academy which caters for 100 children.
Along with that, all coaches involved are undertaking coaching qualification courses to ensure children receive an adequate level of tutelage.
There is one schoolboy team in the club with an Under 14s outfit playing in the Dublin and District Schoolboy League.
On the horizon, Inchicore are hoping to mimic what Knocklyon United and Michael Kennedy have done with their inclusive Football For all programme.
Elsewhere in the club, there are 40 adults across two teams competing in the Leinster Senior League (LSL) for the Inchicore club at junior and intermediate levels.
The intermediate side have been making appointments of real intent behind the scenes, bringing Republic of Ireland Amateur internationals Craig Walsh and Thomas Hyland to the club.
They have appointed Gareth Zambra as manager and he is supported by UEFA ‘A’ Licence coach Paul Kenny, Gerard Mulligan and Fran O’Brien among his backroom team.
Zambra has a proven track record of success, having started his management career with Crumlin United in the schoolboy ranks and helped the club to league success on no less than three occasions.
He then made the move to Bluebell United’s Major Saturday outfit two-years-ago, and managed them to a league title in his debut season and a league and cup double last year.
“The biggest challenge for me is going from Saturday football to intermediate football,” Zambra told The Echo.
“When you look at what the club is doing and I knew a few of the players coming to the club, it caught my attention.
“I’m very confident I can get the club back on a winning trend.”
Zambra’s appointment speaks volumes of the club’s vision for the future, with the new manager promising to “give youth a chance”.
The Senior 1B team started training again on Tuesday night ahead of their return to action.
Under Chairperson Mick O’Shea, the club has set about implementing structures to accommodate their strong vision for the future, which is to develop children through football to hold pride in their surroundings.
Considered a “sleeping giant within football in Dublin”, the club are hoping its rich history will provide a platform in catapulting them into a fruitful future.
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