Lifelong volunteers celebrated ahead of Ulster Club SFC Final
With the AIB Ulster Senior Football Club Final taking place tomorrow at the Box-It Athletic grounds, all eyes will be fixed on the players and managers of Kilcoo and Errigal Ciaran, but the success of a club is about much more than what happens on the pitch.
Today we look at long-serving volunteers from both clubs who have played their part in their sides’ successes over a lifetime of service.
Kilcoo – Roger Morgan and Seamus McClean
Two of Kilcoo’s most valued volunteers are Roger Morgan and Seamus McClean who have served the club with distinction for over 50 years.
Roger was chairman for Kilcoo for over 27 years and has been a Down County Board Delegate for the past 10 years. A regular about the club, Roger’s commitment to all aspects of the club is reflective in his many roles including weekly lotto seller, looking after the community centre and regularly helping out with club merchandise. He is a committed servant to the club who is always willing to help everyone with any job and adds a laugh when he is around. Roger is a very special asset to Kilcoo club.
Seamus’s commitment to Kilcoo has been outstanding for the past 50 years. In his early days he took teams and helped out wherever he could before taking up the position of Treasurer which he held for over 30 years. Seamus is currently overseeing club development, helping Kilcoo plan for the future along with selling club lotto weekly and contributing to fundraising annually.
Many in Kilcoo would firmly agree that the club would not be in the position they are now, on or off the field, without the decades of effort devoted by Seamus and Roger.
Errigal Ciaran – Francie Campbell
Francie Campbell has given a lifetime of service to the Errigal Ciaran club, carrying out his role as gateman in Dunmoyle for over 40 years.
Francie hails from Altacloughfin, a townland which sits between Garvaghey and Altamuskin, and borders the Beragh Red Knights parish. The oldest of six boys, his was a football mad household throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, and Francie, like his brothers, was a Gaelic football fanatic. He would be first to admit, he wasn’t the best footballer in the house (his brother Barney lined out in Croke Park in September 1975 in the All Ireland Minor Final when Tyrone minors were beaten by a Jack O’Shea inspired Kerry team) but when it came to following Ballygawley St. Ciaran’s, and later Errigal Ciaran GAC, nobody has supported the club more than Francie Campbell.
In Tyrone, for years, the custom was Sunday afternoon senior/reserve league – 3.45pm/2.15pm – and rain, hail or shine, every Sunday at 2pm, Francie would be there with the paybox open ready for his first patron through the gates. There was no reserve match for Francie to see, his job was not done until almost 4 o’clock. Alongside his other loyal gatemen, Francie would secure the gate receipts and take to the clubhouse before enjoying the remainder of the senior game.
That has been Francie’s routine for over 40 years and continues to this day, quietly going about his work, no fuss, no drama – just a big smile when Errigal come out on the right side of the result.
He loves watching Errigal Ciaran play football and gets satisfaction from playing his part in the club, a bigger part than many who have played a lot more games in Cardinal MacRory Park. Francie’s love of the game has been passed on to his son, Peter, who now himself enjoys helping around Dunmoyle, supporting his father at the paybox and any other tasks which are required.
The scheduling of games in the modern era mean that the traditional Sunday league fixture has changed to a Friday evening. However, Francie’s routine remains the same. Always there, ready to help out. It is that longevity of service which distinguishes men like Francie Campell – a lifelong volunteer.
That is what volunteering is about, the unseen work, doing something for love of place and love of our games.
