Donegal Town FC's Raymond Jordan 'shocked and delighted' to be voted Local Club Hero

Donegal Town FC Chairperson Raymond Jordan has been crowned RSVP Live’s Local Club Hero 2023.

Raymond was one of ten club volunteers from around the country to make it to the final public vote stage. He was announced as winner on Tuesday evening, with the surprise news broken to him at a family gathering.

“I am shocked and delighted,” he told Donegal Live. “It is a big honour for the club and it shines a positive light on all the work that is done by everyone, particularly with the underage teams.”

The purpose of the awards programme was to recognise people who are going the extra mile to get more girls and women involved in sport.

Raymond said: “We started with the girls three years ago, around 30 girls came to that first session and it has gone from strength to strength.

“We have always had a big focus on developing the underage teams and the club is in a really positive place with that at the moment. We have 300+ underage players coming through the gates every week.

Raymond is quick to point out that it takes a lot of people to keep such a significant underage membership afloat.
“A lot of volunteers put in a lot of effort,” he said. “It makes it easier for us as a committee to have such a good team around us. I would like to thank those who put me forward - the club and also Sinead McGowan whose daughter has played football with us since we started the girls' team three years ago.

“The club is in a really good place now. We have a lot going on, including the development of the pitch at Killymard which we hope will be seeded in September.”

Raymond wishes to thank everyone who voted for him. He secured around a quarter of the total vote, showing the esteem in which he is held locally and among the Donegal Diaspora.

Donegal Town FC added: "Big congratulations to our fantastic chairman, Raymond Jordan, on winning the RSVP’s Local Club Hero Award 2023! This well-deserved accolade is a reflection of Raymond's passion, perseverance, and the immeasurable impact he’s had on Donegal Town FC. His leadership shines as a beacon of inspiration, lighting the way for future generations of football enthusiasts and volunteers. Raymond's commitment to the club and the community exemplifies the spirit of a true volunteer and we are incredibly proud of his achievement!"