Tulla United claim Club of the Month Award

APRIL 20 marked another milestone in the history of Tulla United AFC when the club’s officials were invited to FAI headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin, to receive the coveted AVIVA FAI Club of the Month award.
The club was thrilled to receive the award, which in many respects is an acknowledgement of the great strides that Tulla United has made particularly in the last decade. It was also the first occasion that the award was given to a soccer club from Clare.
The FAI select the winners (eight per year) based on an application process. The competition is open to all 3,000 junior clubs nationwide and has been running for six years. A vetting committee assesses each application on the basis of a set of criteria – the nature and effectiveness of the administration of the club; the level and extent of coaching; the various levels of participation from all ages and both genders; the performance of the club not just in terms of cups and medals; the facilities available to club members and the way that the club knits into the community where it exists. Also, all the elements of good practice are sought by the FAI panel – code of ethics, appropriate and meaningful child protection measures, as well as good management systems.
With 40 qualified coaches and over 250 members, the Tulla soccer club serves a wide hinterland in the heart of East Clare encompassing the parishes of Tulla, Bodyke, Clooney, Quin, Crusheen, Feakle, Killanena, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Broadford and extending into other areas. Saturdays are very busy days for the schoolboy/girl members and the club’s home base known as The Cragg, is a hive of activity. The club does its best to cater for all age groups and in recent years, Tulla United has entered girls’ teams into the Clare League.
The adult teams are enjoying their involvement with the Clare District Soccer League with teams in the Premier Division and Division Three. Next Sunday could yet signal another red letter day for the club if the Junior A team can overcome their semi-final opponents, Avenue United to get to the club’s first cup final in its 41-year history.
Since the revival of schoolboy football on a serious level in 2000, the value of good, young players coming through to the senior squad has been shown. The recent great run of the Clare Youths team was another positive for Tulla United, which provided the manager of that Clare team and six of the panel.
Tulla United was founded in 1970 and played its first game at the Fairgreen on Sunday, December 13, 1970 defeating Lifford B on a scoreline of 3-2. Unfortunately, that first game was to prove to be the new club’s only victory in its inaugural season.
Down through the years, Tulla United has enjoyed some limited success, which proves that there is more to a club than cups and medals. The decision to purchase eight acres of craggy land on New Year’s Day 2004 represented a turning point for the club and following four years of hard labour, it culminated with the official opening of facilities in May 2008 by the CEO of the FAI, John Delaney. A lot of local people, some of whom have no connection to football at all, have given of their time.
Plans are now at an advanced stage for a new AstroTurf facility, which will be a fantastic amenity for the whole parish and beyond. This is a joint venture between Tulla Community Council and Tulla Soccer Club. Tulla United will now seek to be named the FAI Club of the Year for 2011.