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23 August 2021

Dear members,

Firstly, on behalf of myself and the Executive Committee, I hope everyone is keeping safe. We were delighted to welcome back our teams at the end of April 2021 to train with the season kicking-off in earnest this past weekend. It’s a great pleasure to welcome our players, managers and parents back as we enter a new season. Our senior teams have already commenced their seasons and we wish them the best for the coming campaign. It’s great to have our Intermediate Sunday team playing back at the Club for the first time since 2010.

During the summer months, we held two Summer Camps with Shamrock Rovers along with the annual FAI camp (which brought a special guest to our club!!). In total, there was an estimated 500 kids who attended these camps which was our biggest year on record. A big thank you to all our coaches, volunteers, members of our Mens Shed and parents who helped as these events are simply not possible without your time and effort.

For the players and parents that are new to our Club, a huge welcome from us all. As an Executive Committee, we continue to follow the Government guidelines as it’s our priority to ensure that our players, managers and parents are provided with a safe environment every time they train or play. As a reminder, here are some positive updates from the last 12-18 months:

New grass pitch – after a long wait, the first game took place in August 2020. We are continuing to work with South Dublin County Council on the ongoing maintenance of the new pitch which is named “Pitch 23”.

New All-Weather pitch – the new surface was first used in late September 2020 and we are currently working through the process of getting the All-Weather pitch added to the list of FIFA approved surfaces that is held by the FAI.

Bar refurbishment – this has now been completed. We are excited about welcoming you all to the bar from 19 July (here’s hoping!).

New website / App launched - the Club launched a new website and Club app in last year.

Sports Capital Grant – in March 2021, the Club submitted a claim for funding under Sport Ireland’s Capital Grant scheme. If successful, our aim is to refurbish the ground floor of the Club house so that our “indoor” facilities align to the wonderful “outdoor” facilities. We will update you all as soon as we hear back on this grant claim.

New coaching platform – the club has also invested in a Football Development Programme which we will roll out for the start of the new season with our partners in Coerver Coaching (Leinster). This tool will enable us to standardised the coaching approach across all teams up to U12/13 and potentially beyond regardless of the levels children are playing at and will assist the FDC develop further the overall quality and style of football at TUFC. This programme will include:

- Access to an Online Coaching Platform

- A Club Liaison Officer

- Activation day

- Site visits

In addition to this relationship with Coerver, we continue to expand our relationship with Shamrock Rovers. As an update on this, we currently have over 10 players training with Rovers, an exciting new emerging talent programme due to commence in September, and our 1st Junior Irish International Odhran McLaughlin was selected into Paul Osam’s Under 16’s squad recently. Odhran signed for Rovers through our club partnership. The success of the partnership has led to two separate Rovers camps with almost 350 boys and girls participating.

Club Lottery – most recently, the Club launched its own Lotto and the first draw took place on 4 July 2021. We had no winner of the jackpot but Alan Curtis, Matthew Dillon and Eamon Gibson all won spot prizes.

Before the 2019_20 season was cut short by Covid-19, the Executive Committee proposed to increase the annual subscriptions for the 2020_21 season but this increase was not passed on to our members given the direct impact of Covid-19. The Club is applying this increase for the 2021_22 season. As the previous season was cut-short, we will be offering those players who paid their subscriptions for the 2020_21 season a discount on their subscriptions to reward your loyalty over the many years.

The attached appendix breaks down the costs for the new season along with instructions as to how to settle the subscriptions.

The annual subscriptions are a large part of our annual income, although it does not cover our expenses in full. Any shortfall needs to be raised through our various fundraising activities. This year we will be following strict guidelines to collect our subscriptions in a quick and efficient manner.

Through our ClubZap App or via this link, subscriptions can be paid in full or via monthly instalments. The Club’s Executive Committee has decided that if, by 30 September 2021, a contribution has not been made towards the annual subscriptions for any player, those players’ parents/guardians will be asked not to present their child(ren) for any more training sessions or matches. Team managers will be instructed that, in the event of the fees remaining unpaid, they are not to allow those children to participate in any training or in any matches. In this regard, Templeogue United is no different to any other club, all of whom depend on membership subscriptions for their successful operation.

The committee regrets having to take this course of action, but by not paying the fees due, parents/guardians are preventing their children being classed as a member of Templeogue United, which means they are not covered by the Club’s insurance.

The club has a policy of not depriving children of football where a family is experiencing circumstances of hardship. This is particularly understandable and can be discussed in confidence with the Club’s Honorary Treasurer (treasurer@templeogueunited.ie). Your co-operation is this matter would be gratefully appreciated.

Albert Johnston, Chairman, Templeogue United.

Gavin Jones, Treasurer, Templeogue United.