Shelbourne FC is delighted to announce BestDrive by Continental as an Official Sponsor and Partner of our Women’s National League Senior team for the 2021 season. The BestDrive by Continental logo will feature prominently on the back of the women’s senior team jerseys, as well as branding and advertisement placements in Tolka Park and a broad digital offering.
BestDrive by Continental is a leading expert in automotive maintenance and full car servicing. Their experts look after everything on your vehicle from tyres, brakes, exhausts, servicing, and even pre-NCT testing at each of their 30 branches nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Eddie Ryan Marketing Director with BestDrive commented “BestDrive are thrilled to commence a new partnership with Shelbourne FC, whose tradition and passion in the National Women’s League is without question. With 9 BestDrive branches based in the Dublin area, we were seeking a suitable opportunity to partner with a local community and we are so excited with what we have seen to date with Shelbourne FC, and also what is planned for Shelbourne FC over the coming years both on and off the pitch.
We look forward to working with and more importantly supporting Shelbourne FC and their players and supporters in the future, and we wish David O’Connor, Noel King and the team our best wishes as they commence their exploits in 2021”.
Also speaking at the launch, Noel King, Shelbourne FC WNL manager commented: “It’s great to have BestDrive getting behind the women’s game and supporting Shelbourne FC as we continue to develop the game on many fronts, the future looks promising and we are doing everything in our power to bring success back to the Club in partnership with BestDrive ”
Speaking on the announcement, Shelbourne FC CEO, David O’Connor, had the following to say:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have BestDrive by Continental on board as an Official Sponsor of our Women’s National League team for the 2021 season.
This partnership with BestDrive by Continental is one which really excites me as we share a commitment to excellence and have a shared ambition and desire for success for our Women’s Senior team.
I wanted to say a special thanks to Eddie Ryan of BestDrive by Continental, who has been a pleasure to work with. Eddie’s passion for the growth of the Women’s National League is infectious and we are incredibly grateful to him and his team for their support for our Women’s National Team for the season ahead.
We are really looking forward to work closely with BestDrive for the 2021 season and beyond.
I would also like to thank Halpin Sports Sponsorship for their significant assistance in making this partnership possible. Peter and his team have been brilliant to work with over the past number of seasons and continue to assist the club in finding like-minded commercial partners”
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Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to announce that Professor Brian MacCraith has become the club’s new Honorary Life President.
The Club is thrilled to welcome Brian, who comes into the role with a wealth of outstanding achievements in his illustrious career.
Prof MacCraith was President of Dublin City University (DCU) from 2010 to 2020.
During his time as President, DCU developed significantly in terms of scale, footprint, and reputation. DCU became Ireland’s fastest growing university, now having more than 18,000 students, and added three campuses in the North Dublin region since 2015.
Under his leadership, DCU developed a significant international profile, with major academic and research partnerships across the globe, and a strong reputation for innovation.
MacCraith has a strong interest in sport and, during his time as President, many sports, both individual and team-based, flourished at DCU. The university soccer team won the inter-varsity Collingwood Cup for the first time in 2020.
Prof MacCraith is a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers.
He has chaired a number of important reviews on behalf of the Irish Government. These included a Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structures (‘MacCraith Report’ published in June 2014) and the Review of STEM Education in the Irish School System (Report published in November 2016). He also chaired a Rapid Review of the Cervical Check Programme on behalf of the HSE in 2019.
He chairs the Board of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and is a Board member of both Barretstown Children’s Charity and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI).
Prof MacCraith is currently heading the government’s High-Level Task Force on COVID19 Vaccination, which is overseeing the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in Ireland.
Prof MacCraith’s appointment aligns with Shelbourne’s vision of innovation and quality as well as our social values.
Prof MacCraith is the third successive Honorary Life President of the club from County Louth, as his predecessors Theresa and Tony Donnelly also hailed from the county.
Shelbourne FC’s Andrew Doyle, who has recently become the club’s Chairman, said: “We are delighted that a man of Brian’s vision and calibre has agreed to become our Honorary Life President.
“We look forward to continuing the process of building Shelbourne to be the leading professional football club for both the men’s and women’s game on this island under Brian’s Presidency.”
Prof. MacCraith said: “I am very pleased to take on this honorary role at Shelbourne FC. The Club has an illustrious history, stretching back more than a century, but, more importantly, it promotes important values, including integrity, community engagement, equality and inclusion. I look forward to being part of the club’s exciting future.”
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Larry White
As the Shels start their 2021 campaign ‘on the road’ this 26th March against Galway United it might be interesting to recall events exactly 100 years ago on this date: in particular Shels involvement (or lack of it!) in the Irish Cup Final of 26 March 1921. Shels were ‘dismissed’ from taking any further part in the Irish Cup over a dispute around the replay of the semi final. Shels had been favourites to hold on to their title which they won the previous year (1920).
The Irish Cup was a 32–county competition. There was great interest in the Irish Cup for example 10,000 spectators watched Belfast club Cliftonville beat Shels 1—0 in a replayed Final at Dalymount after 12,900 fans had watched the original drawn Final in Belfast (0—0). A crowd of 16,000 spectators watched Shels beat Bohs 2—1 at Dalymount in 1911.
Shels were precluded from getting to the 1921 Final and retaining their title. The Final was eventually played between Glentoran (Belfast) and Glenavon (Lurgan) two Northern clubs, with Glenavon running out 2-0 winners. Shels had won the Irish Cup three times up to 1921. Shels were awarded the 1920 Irish Cup title after sectarian violence marred the other semi final between Belfast Celtic and Glentoran. The political situation was starting to impact negatively on football. The polarisation of Irish society along nationalist and unionist grounds was aggravated by religious sectarianism. Southern clubs no longer took part in the Irish Cup after the events of 1920 & 1921. The subsequent actions taken by football clubs and administrations north and south also led to a more permanent split in Irish Football.
Shels had played the Semi Final of the 1921 competition up in Belfast’s Windsor Park on Sat 5th March against Glenavon from Lurgan. Shels route to the semi finals saw them beat both Bohemians and St James Gate, with both those fixtures having to go to a replay. The 1921 Belfast Semi Final tie ended in a 0—0 draw in front of a crowd of over 5,000 spectators (gate receipts £241). Shels had drawn the first tie in each of its three rounds it played. Following the drawn result the practice was that Glenavon FC would travel to Dublin for the replay which was scheduled for Weds 16 March in Dalymount Park. But the prospect of having to travel to Dublin’s Dalymount Park against the background of conditions during the War of Independence proved too daunting for the Lurgan club Glenavon FC.
In the early 1920s the political and military background of everyday life around Ireland, North and South meant that sport was drawn into the struggle. In some ways the splitting of Ireland into two parts was mirrored in the football split. The daily conflict impacted on football and particularly in 1921 on the Irish Cup Semi Final. Although Shels had travelled up to Belfast, Glenavon refused to come to Dalymount for the replay over their concerns around security issues. Hatred and sectarian discrimination fed into sport but particularly association football.
In 1921 the struggle for independence from British rule in Ireland was coming to a very bitter end. On paper there were already plans to effectively split Ireland into two separate administrations though Partition. The Anglo Irish Treaty of December 1921 would temporarily put off the conflict. Daily life in 1921 throughout Ireland was hugely strained by the war between Britain and nationalist forces who sought their maximum demands of a 32 county republic. Features of that war of independence included guerrilla tactics by nationalist forces attacking British soldiers, police and civilians suspected of aiding the British. Frustrated by nationalist tactics the British response included martial law, curfews, trials by court martials, executions, torture of suspects, destruction of property, looting and burning. There was also internment of the native population (over 2,200 in 1921).
There were assassinations and reprisals on both sides. The British government imposed curfews in many parts of Ireland especially Cork and Dublin whereby anybody found out after a set time could be searched, arrested and possibly locked up. It is ironic that a century later because of Covid pandemic restrictions many streets are similarly empty at night. In 1921 it was not unusual, for men especially, to be stopped and told “Halt take your hands out of your pockets!” by nervous police who feared ‘revolutionaries’ mingling with civilians might have weapons on them to attack police. Sport contests between southern and northern clubs were always at risk of trouble.
Looking back to events of 1921 Shels deserved praise for travelling up to Belfast for the initial Sat 5th March fixture, even more so as Shels were fielding a weakened side. According to newspapers of the time Shels did well to manage the 0–0 draw. They were missing some key players such as Foley and the famous Val Harris. According to the Sunday Independent match report the Shels Goalkeeper Walsh was ‘brilliant’ in goal. Walsh was the difference between the two sides on a day when the pitch after heavy rain cut up as the game progressed. Walsh kept out some great Glenavon shots on goal with cover from an excellent back row in the rejigged Shels team. Shels survived and looked forward to the replay in Dalymount. The Shels team for the 1920 Semi Final included
Walsh (GK), McGloughlin, Kavanagh, Watson (CH for Harris), D. Shiels, Kirkland, G.A. Howsley, Fulham, G. P. Doyle R. F. Kinulmount (for Foley) , Mc Veigh, Flood.
The Glenavon club reneged on the custom of replaying in their opponents home ground. Glenavon lobbied the Northern football authorities to rearrange the replay already scheduled for Dalymount to be played in Windsor Park instead on Weds 16 March. instead of the Dalymount venue as per custom and practice for replays. Glenavon were awarded a bye into the Final. Shelbourne refused to travel to Belfast. Shels were put out of the competition. Taking the side of Glenavon The Belfast Newsletter, wrote
‘What was expected came to pass, and that was that Shelbourne failed to obey the order of the Senior Clubs Committee of the I.F.A. and travel to Belfast last Wednesday ..and were accordingly dismissed from the competition’ (Belfast Newsletter Monday 21, 1921).
As it turned out on 26 March Glenavon lost in the Final 2—0 to Glentoran.
There was a lot of anger and finger-pointing as to who sanctioned Belfast’s Windsor Park as the venue for the rearranged replay between Shels and Glenavon. The Special Committee of the Senior Clubs of the IFA instruction to Shels was seen as high handed and grossly unfair. In the final analysis it led to Shels taking no further part in the Irish Cup. Further still it led to the Leinster FA breaking away from the IFA the then parent body for Association football in Ireland. Shels went on to help set up the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) along with Bohemians, St James Gate, Dublin United, Jacobs and others.
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Shelbourne FC is delighted to announce Blåkläder Workwear as an Official Sponsor and Partner of our Men’s Senior team for the 2021 season.
The Blåkläder logo will feature prominently on the back of the men’s jerseys, as well as extensive branding and advertisement placements throughout Tolka Park and a broad digital offering and coverage.
Blåkläder develop, produce and distribute high quality workwear, gloves and shoes for tradesmen with high demands on functionality, quality and design and sell their products on an international scale.
Shels become the newest partner with the Swedish company alongside Hamburg side Saint Pauli.
Gerry Nathan Country Manager For Blåkläder said: “We are delighted to be on-board as a commercial partner this year. Shelbourne is a club with an incredible history and fantastic traditions and a fan base that is a perfect fit for our brand.
“Throughout the season we will be running several promotions with the club in terms of Workwear for the fans, so we would encourage the fans to keep their eyes peeled for those competitions and promotions over the course of the season.
“Finally I would like to wish Ian Morris his Staff and the team every success for 2021”
Speaking on the announcement, Shelbourne FC CEO David O’Connor had the following to say:
“We share their ambition and their desire for success and we look forward to working with them closely throughout the season.
“We are incredibly excited to have Blåkläder on board as an Official Sponsor for the 2021 season. Blåkläder are an extraordinarily successful, international brand and we are proud to be associated with a company that has strong links in the Irish market and is continuing to expand and grow, national and globally.
“I wanted to say a special thanks to Gerry and Don of Blåkläder, who have been nothing other than pleasure to work with and have been extremely supportive and passionate about the partnership.
“We are very excited to work closely with Blåkläder for the 2021 season and beyond.”
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“Stigma Doesn’t Play, I Do” – Shelbourne FC and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services team up to end mental health stigma
Shelbourne FC home and away kits to display message “Stigma Doesn’t Play, I Do”
Shelbourne Football Club (FC) and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services are delighted to announce a multi-faceted partnership aiming to reframe mental health stigma and promote mental wellbeing in the community.
Shelbourne FC is committed to embedding mental health promotion as a core value of its club ethos, and sees the holistic development of young club members, via the Shelbourne FC Youth Academy, with a membership of over 400 young people in particular, as a key part of its community work.
St Patrick’s Mental Health Services is Ireland’s largest, not-for-profit mental health service provider. Its vision is to see a society where all citizens are empowered and given the opportunity to live mentally healthy lives.
Mental health stigma can impact how quickly we seek support when we need it.
In 2020, St Patrick’s launched the first phase of its #NoStigma campaign to reframe mental health stigma and discrimination by showing the positive effect on life when they are not experienced. Its aim is to highlight how it serves us all collectively when stigma does not exist, enabling us to fully participate and access support at home, at work and in our communities.
Taking part in community life through participation in community activities such as sport, through playing, volunteering or supporting, can positively impact mental health in daily life and can support recovery for those experiencing difficulties. Fear of mental health stigma and discrimination has the potential to hold us back unnecessarily from doing these things or from seeking support from teammates or peers.
Kicking off the partnership, and to mark the second phase of the #NoStigma campaign, Shelbourne FC will be adding the #NoStigma campaign message “Stigma Doesn’t Play, I Do”, to the men and women’s senior teams’ home and away day match kits. The collaboration aims to create an openness and understanding about mental health and promote wellbeing among those involved with Shelbourne FC, particularly its young club members.
A recent survey carried out by the Central Statistics Office showed that almost 60% of people say their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic, with younger people more likely to have experienced recent difficulties with their wellbeing.
This is felt among all age groups throughout its club and community.
The collaboration will include:
Promotion of the #NoStigma message via the Shelbourne FC newly team kits
Development of bespoke mental health promotion resources and information for club members
Participation of young club members in Walk in My Shoes initiatives, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ flagship mental health education and awareness-raising campaign for young people
Providing information and encouraging people to seek support when needed.
This initiative is particularly meaningful for members and supporters of Shelbourne FC, who sadly lost two supporters to suicide in 2018. In the same year, the club also experienced the tragic and sudden loss of a young player during one of a match due to a rare heart condition. These events have left a lasting imprint on the club, and supporting and promoting mental health within the Shelbourne FC community has become intrinsic to its core values.
With over 1,000 club members of all ages, including 400 boys and girls in its Youth Academy, Shelbourne FC and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services have identified a significant opportunity to come together to leave mental health stigma behind.
Shelbourne FC CEO, David O’Connor, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce this incredibly important partnership with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, and we look forward to working closely with their fantastic team on several innovative initiatives throughout the year. We strongly believe that football has a growing role to play in opening up the discussion around mental health and wellbeing, and as a club, we are determined to play a leading role in advocating this. There is still a long way to go to normalise discussion and action around mental health, but we hope that this multi-faceted partnership with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services will go a long way towards achieving that.”
Shelbourne FC Head of Media, Gavin White, said: “This partnership is a significant moment for our club as it has come to terms with the loss of two of our friends and supporters, as well as the death of Izzy Dezu, who collapsed and died during a Shelbourne FC Academy game in 2018. Coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, we find ourselves compelled to lead through actions and directly employ the resources that can have lasting impacts on the young people in our community. Our young players have been unable to play the game that for many can be their highlights of their week, or simply an escape. Without this it has been challenging for them and their coaches. These resources can help them learn to be mentally well, and kick out the stigma of feeling bad mentally. It will also show them that we’re with them every step of the way, as we are with our supporters, coaches and volunteers.”
CEO of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Paul Gilligan, said: “We are delighted to partner with Shelbourne FC to build on the #NoStigma message within the community. As we continue to tackle the mental health challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, this partnership is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of leaving mental health stigma behind and to highlight how supporting one another can positively impact a person’s mental health journey. Our 2020 Annual Stigma survey showed that one in five of us has had a positive experience of talking about a mental health difficulty in our local community. Let’s make this everyone’s reality.”
Ends
For further information or to arrange a media interview, please contact:
Sinéad Makk, Communications Officer, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services
The following proposals will form part of the ongoing campaign for 2021:
Campaign messaging on the club’s home and away match day kit with “Stigma Doesn’t Play, I do” for our men and women’s senior teams.
Reserved places on the Walk in My Shoes Transition Year Programme for Youth Academy Members, with the aim of them becoming ‘mental health champions’ within the Academy community
Messaging throughout our Academy facility enabling conversations throughout our teams
Online campaigns centred around our raising awareness for our adult members, as well as younger fans to remove the stigma of mental health.
Online interactive event on the theme of mental health promotion/ways to keep wellthat includes a panel of speakers from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services and Shelbourne FC staff
A special webpage comprising the campaign’s resources and mental health promotion information and supports.
Survey results
A recent survey carried out by the Central Statistics Office showed that almost 60% of people say their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic, with younger people more likely to have experienced recent difficulties with their well-being. – Fifth Social Impact of Covid-19 survey, from the Central Statistics Office
Our 2020 Annual Stigma survey showed that one in five of us has had a positive experience of talking about a mental health difficulty in their local community. – SPMHS Annual Attitudes and Stigma Survey 2020
Shelbourne Football Club
Shelbourne FC is a leading Irish professional football club with an illustrious past and exciting future. The club is a true Dublin institution, formed in 1895, 126 years ago. Shelbourne FC has a decorated past having won the national title 13 times and the national cup 11 times as well as many famous European nights. Shelbourne’s men’s and women’s teams both compete in the SSE Airtricity League with both teams playing out of Tolka Park, on Dublin’s northside.
St Patrick’s Mental Health Services is Ireland’s largest independent, not-for-profit mental health service provider, providing inpatient care through its three approved centres; St Patrick’s University Hospital, St Patrick’s, Lucan and Willow Grove Adolescent Unit, as well as community and outpatient care through its nationwide Dean Clinic network.
St Patrick’s Mental Health Services provides a range of mental health services for adolescents and adults and offers remote access to all services, in addition to a Homecare service that consists of the highest levels of one-to-one support, provided remotely, to ensure service users receive necessary care and treatment, through daily or more frequent contact, along with psychopharmalogical input arranged in liaison with local pharmacies.
The organisation’s mental health services cater for addictions and dual diagnosis, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, psychosis and mental health difficulties in older adults as well as young adults.
Walk in My Shoes is St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ flagship awareness-raising and education campaign. Established in 2012, Walk in My Shoes runs initiatives throughout the year to promote positive mental health in schools and communities around Ireland, including the Mission Possible school achievement awards, the Frame of Mind short-film competition, #MindYourSelfie free eBooks and School Resources and the Transition Year Programme. For more, please visit www.walkinmyshoes.ie, or follow us on Twitter (@walkinmyshoes), Facebook (WalkInMyShoes) or Instagram (@stpatricks_wims).
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Shelbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Sophie Lenehan for 2021.
Sophie is a Republic of Ireland Under-17 and Under-19 international and originally hails from Ballindaggin and her first club at Ballindaggin United.
Having won an FAI Cup, two league cups with Wexford Youths, Lenehan brings a wealth of experience and success to Tolka Park.
Before setting into a career of trophies, Sophie had previously been with Shels U16s, a team she said was “full of stars” including Leanne Kiernan, Alex Kavanagh and several Shels players.
The keeper was previously with Sion Switfs and has also an impressive GAA football record with Wexford and club Clonee.
Having recently trained with the Reds, Sophie is also studying English and Geography at Maynooth University.
Speaking to Shelbournefc.ie, Sophie said: she is “excited to get the season started” and has “really enjoyed” joining the group and new manager Noel King.
“The team has great character and there’s definitely the potential for serious success here,” she said.
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Shelbourne FC is delighted to announce the double signing of Chloe Mustaki and Rachel Baynes for the 2021 Women’s National League season.
The former Bordeaux and Charlton Athletic midfielder Chloe Mustaki returns to Tolka Park for the 2021 season. The Irish international began her football career with Park Celtic boy’s team.
Years later, Mustaki made the move to St. Joseph’s to play girl’s football. At the age of 16, Chloe had secured a move to Peamount United and had won the Women’s National League in 2011.
After playing with DLR Waves and reaching the FAI Cup Final through a football scholarship with UCD, Mustaki made the move to the reds for her first spell with the club.
After a season with Shels, Mustaki had made the move across the water to play for Charlton Athletic Women in the Championship.
During her time with Charlton, the Irish International made 8 appearances, 6 in the Women’s championship and 2 in the WSL Cup.
Chloe played in 18 UEFA international games at both U17 and U19 level. She also captained the Women’s U19s to the semi-final of the 2014 Euros in Norway.
Chloe Mustaki makes her return to the reds for the 2021 season and will be eager to bring silverware to the club.
Growing up, Rachel Baynes, a Newport native played for Castlebar Celtic from an early age
before being signed by Galway Women’s FC.
Rachel has played internationally for the Republic of Ireland at underage level. Most notably, The Irish Women’s U19 squad.
The young defender is an exciting footballer to watch and will hope to bring success to the reds for the season ahead.
Versatile, Rachel can play at either right-back or right-wing and is balancing football with college in NUI Galway.
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