Kerry’s LB Rovers are the latest club to complete the FAI Club Mark.

LB Rovers Underage Soccer Club was formed in 2012 to give Children in the Lisselton and Ballybunion areas of North Kerry the opportunity to learn & play the game of football. For many years Lisselton and Ballybunion had successful adult teams of their own, with no emphasis being put on the development of younger players, thus leading to both senior teams Lisselton Rovers and Ballybunion Celtic folding in recent years.

With no senior teams in the area at the time, something needed to be done to arrest the decline of football in the locality. Local man and former Lisselton Rovers player Eoin O' Mahony, who has had a long and distinguished playing career including cross-channel, decided it was time to start focusing solely on grassroots. Eoin carried out the necessary Garda Vetting, Safeguarding and Coaching Badges which would enable him to begin coaching with the young people in the area. The clubs first season began with a small group of 25 Children, with both boys and girls getting involved.

The level of interest grew immensely in the ensuing couple of years and continues to grow into the present day where there are now almost 200 children participating in the LB Rovers Club Structure which includes: the Boys & Girls Academy (U7, U8, U9, U10), youth teams from U11 – U16 and an U18 team competing in the Kerry District League. The Club had its first taste of silverware in the 2019-2020 season winning the U13 & U15 Kerryschoolboys/girls League titles which was a landmark achievement for all associated with the club.

LB Rovers have also produced young players, both boys and girls, who are currently playing elite national league level football and young players who have attended national assessments. The Club’s girls section is growing year on year and the hope is that they will form a Senior Women's Team in the not too distant future.

The Club Committee consists of a small group of very interested parents who volunteer their time to assist in both the running of the club, whilst also getting involved in coaching the various different age groups.

However, the biggest obstacle LB Rovers face to continue their growth is the fact that they do not own their own grounds. LB Rovers vision is to be in a position to provide their young players with a training and playing facility of their own, somewhere in the Lisselton / Ballybunion area. This would allow the Club to keep building on the great volunteer work that's being carried out with the youth in their area.

The Club has fundraised and purchased a twin dressing room container and they have also purchased two large 12-seater team dug-outs, however unfortunately as mentioned they have no suitable grounds available in order to put such great resources to good use, as of yet.

The Club are delighted to have secured it's FAI Club Mark status and would like to thank it's hard-working Committee, Coaches, Volunteers, Supportive Parents and of course every Boy & Girl in the club who play such a huge part of their continued success.

The FAI Club Mark is free and optional for clubs and aims to:

• Improve the management of clubs ‘off the field’
• Establish and promote best practice
• Empower and support clubs
• Recognise and reward clubs for achieving high standards
• Increase a club’s capacity to operate effectively and grow football in communities throughout Ireland.

If your club is interested in learning more about the FAI Club Mark please complete this short Registration Form.