Soccer fever hits St Cronan’s
St Cronan’s Association CLG provides day support to 127 adults with intellectual disability and/or autism through their centres in Nenagh, Roscrea and Birr.
Since February, soccer mania has gripped the centre, as St Cronan’s is working in partnership with the FAI to develop soccer in the region for adults with intellectual disability and/or autism.
In February, trials were held and 22 people across the four service locations were selected to form two teams. Training takes place twice a week in Roscrea with FAI accredited coaches Donal Hogan and Deirdre Ryan who are both members of St Cronan’s staff. Over the months, the skill and confidence of the teams has grown considerably. The teams have taken part in two Football for All Blitz tournaments in Charleville and Carlow and have even had a coaching session led by James Scott, FAI development officer.
Team member Majella O’Grady from Ballinaclough reported: “Being on the team is great because we get to learn new skills and get fit.”
Team member Catrina Foran from Shallee added: “We meet lots of new people at the matches, and it’s good fun.”
The players picked their own soccer kit colours – drawn to the Barcelona theme of Maroon and Blue and Jackyl Sports kindly sponsored the Jerseys. The vision is to create a passion for soccer amongst the group of people within St Cronan’s, so that they will have the confidence to link with their own local soccer clubs and to establish teams within their own communities to play and train in the evenings and weekends.
Maeve Keenan, Senior Instructor, St Cronan’s Nenagh, the person behind the idea, said: “soccer has generated such excitement around the centres. There is a real interest developing in the game and such a feel good factor associated with the match day. There are so many benefits to engaging in soccer for this group other than the obvious health & fitness benefits, such as team building skills, social interaction, and enjoying a sense of achievement, both in winning and losing”.
Over the coming months, it is envisaged that discussions will take place with other service providers in the Mid-West to see if there are enough numbers and interest to establish a league in the Mid-West that may be facilitated with the support of local community soccer clubs in partnership with the FAI. For more information email meave.keenan@cronans.ie