Donegal League AGM: Strong opposition to calendar year plans; Terry Leyden remembered

A large percentage of clubs in the Donegal League are against the FAI's proposal surrounding a unified calendar schedule.

Under the plan, Leagues would run from February to November, an aim that is a part of the Football Pathways Plan devised by the FAI's Director of Football, Marc Canham.

The plans have been met with resistance within the Donegal League.

Secretary Nigel Ferry told Monday's annual general meeting that 33 of the Donegal League's 40 clubs are against the proposal.

Clubs were surveyed to obtain their feelings on the proposal.

Mr Ferry added that 86 per cent of all junior clubs in Donegal (16 of the Inishowen League's 17 clubs indicated similar feelings) are against the proposal.

Mr Ferry said that 'we are all in agreement that the majority of the recommendations and aims in the FAI Pathways Plan are positive and are to be welcomed', the calendar year schedule remains a massive issue.

In an email to the Football Association of Ireland, the Donegal League expressed 'serious reservations' about the proposal to build an aligned calendar.

“Hopefully common sense will prevail and that the FAI will listen to the concerns of grassroots football in Donegal,” the Donegal League said.

They pointed out that a summer season would be in direct conflict with the GAA – something raised by 63 per cent of respondents in the Donegal League.

With 26 clubs only having one playing pitch, this was also highlighted, while a scarcity of referees and a strain on volunteers – 57.5 per cent of clubs in the Donegal League cater for more than six teams – were also noted.

“We will be addressing the issue again,” Mr Ferry told delegates at The Diamond Park. “It is one that affects every single club in the county and every volunteer in the League.”

A minute's silence was held during the meeting in memory of Terry Leyden, the League's disciplinary secretary who died in February after giving 50 years of service to the game in Donegal.

“Everyone in here has their own stories about Terry, some good and some bad, but I'm sure you all agree that he was the heartbeat of Ballyare and the Donegal League for a long time,” Donegal League Secretary Nigel Ferry said.

“It's only now that many of us are seeing the work Terry carried out for all our benefit. I don't know if we will ever be able to replace him.”

Tam McLaughlin of Oldtown Celtic was elected to the role of vice chairman.

Chairman John Joe McCafferty said he initially intended to step away from his post, but signalled that he would serve 'one more year'.

Long-time Treasurer Declan Sherlock and assistant treasurer John Lafferty both stepped down from their positions.

Karl McHugh of Drumbar United was elected to the role of assistant treasurer, but the treasurer's post remains vacant for now.

Cranford United's Paddy Logue suggested that a person be sought to help improve social media coverage of the Donegal League and put forward the thought that this person could be added to the executive.

“We are working on that,” Mr Ferry said.

Work, too, is planned for the Donegal League's headquarters at The Diamond Park.

A major upgrade of the car park was completed this year and Gweedore United clubman Pol Mac Aoidh was singled out for praise for his assistance with that project.

The Donegal League has applied for Sports Capital funding to replace the fence around the astro pitch as well as the perimeter fence and gates.

“Going forward, our plan is to upgrade our clubhouse and hopefully over the next few years this work will be done,” Mr Ferry told delegates.

A large volume of upgrade work put a dent in the Donegal League coffers this year, with expenditure of €142,237 for pitch and ground works making up the bulk of an expenditure total of €179,419.

The League took in €126,501, including registration fees of €30,449, affiliation fees of €28,400 and Sports Capital funding of €23,873.

Phone bills totalling €2,860 for some executive members were covered while pitch rental took in some €25,255.

A motion from Keadue Rovers asking that bank holidays or public holidays remain free from fixtures, unless cup semi-finals of finals, or where two clubs agree to play a league game was soundly defeated with only two votes in favour.

A rule that states 'where possible (providing no huge backlogs), bank holiday or public holiday weekends remain free from fixtures, unless cup semi-finals or finals' remains in the rulebook.

“If the new rule were to come in, we would have five weekends totally blank,” the fixtures secretary, Christina O'Donnell, said. “There would be no room whatsoever for free weekends. There wouldn't be a hope in hell of a free weekend if we go with five blank weekends.”

Keadue delegate John Francis Doogan said it was his club's feeling that the current rule 'is being constantly played with' citing a case of the Keadue Rovers Reserves playing several bank holiday weekend fixtures 'and they only had one backlog game'.

A Keadue motion proposing that games be called off by the League in the event of an orange (or above) weather alert being issued by Met Éireann was also defeated.

This will continue on a game by game basis. Ms O'Donnell told clubs that 'safety comes first no matter what'.

Delegates also defeated a motion, tabled by Keadue, proposing that teams will not be asked to play Saturday-midweek-Saturday or Sunday-midweek-Sunday.

A lengthy discussion took place on motions surrounding the Donegal League's Cup competition.

Motions by Keadue Rovers asking that the first team at every club 'has' to play in the Brian McCormick Sports Cup was ultimately voted down by delegates.

So, too, was a proposal that the Saturday Cup be solely for reserve/development sides only.

A further motion will be discussed at a forthcoming delegate meeting, which will be preceded by a brief EGM. The motion,also in the name of Keadue Rovers, which did not go to a vote on Monday, asks that players who play in the Saturday Cup can still play in the Brian McCormick Cup and if they play in the Brian McCormick Cup they can no longer play in the Saturday Cup with U18 players not getting cup tied for either.

Meanwhile, the Donegal League will hold its annual presentation function on June 14 at the Silver Tassie Hotel.

Donegal League Executive, 2024/25

Chairman: John Joe McCafferty
Vice Chairman: Tam McLaughlin
Secretary: Nigel Ferry
Assistant Secretary: Jimmy Haughey
Fixtures Secretary: Christina O'Donnell
Treasurer: TBC
Assistant Treasurer: Karl McHugh
Area Reps: Lifford Area – Mike Kelly; Donegal Area – Aidan Cassidy; Milford Area – Hughie Walsh; Gweedore Area – Nigel Ferry; General Area – Gary Foy.