‘We’ll support clubs in this league’ - FAI’s Fran Gavin on National League newcomers

As Bonagee United prepare for the step up into the third tier, the club hosted a function at the Clanree Hotel on Monday night to celebrate their acceptance into the National League.

Club officials, Minister for State with responsibility for Sport, Charlie McConalogue TD, and Councillor Ciaran Brogan were all in attendance, along with the FAI’s Head of Competitions and Football Services, Fran Gavin.

And the FAI’s representative was full of praise for the ambition of the Dry Arch Park side, offering his support to the club through the transition into senior football.

“To be here and have Bonagee as one of our founding members of this league," Gavin said.

"As a club, you should be very proud, and we are very proud at the FAI to have Bonagee as a founding member. This club has a huge reputation in football.

“A lot of clubs went for the expression of entry, nearly 70 and not everyone made it, but the club really did a fantastic presentation to the assessment panel.

“To have this club as part of the tier three is something we’re very proud of. This is a new, unique league in Irish football, and now we have a pathway where ambitious clubs who feel they can move (up), there is that opportunity now to go from the tier three and into the League of Ireland.

“It’s a positive reflection on football in Donegal that we have three clubs in Donegal in the league here who all presented themselves fantastically.

“They showed us what clubs can do and the influence they have on their communities.

“It will be difficult to get into the League of Ireland because you have to win the league, win the play-offs and have a licence.

“There are going to be lots of challenges here for everybody, from developing players and coaches, match officials, administrators and clubs on and off the pitch, and we are on the journey with you.

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“We’ll support all the clubs in this league through travel grants and referees' expenses as much as we can, and we’ll do it in the long term.

“We have clubs coming from Intermediate football, Junior football, colleges and underage national leagues, and that has its own challenges, but everyone needs to support the league from Donegal to Cork, so that we can all improve Irish football.

“This is a long-term project, and it’s something we want to see in years to come that when we’re all retired, we can say that we took part, and we were at the start of something really good for Irish football, and Bonagee and Donegal football are right in the centre of that.”