Mayo FC officially launched on 'momentous day' for soccer

The founding of Mayo FC has been described as 'a momentous day' for soccer in county Mayo.

The newly-established club was officially launched in the Breaffy House Hotel this evening (Monday) in the presence of senior FAI officials and local politicians.

As first reported by Mayo Live, the club will enter Under-14 and U-15 boys teams into the League of Ireland in 2024 as well as an Under-17 girls team.

The club then plans to enter Under-17 and Under-19 male teams 'at the earliest opportunity', according to Mayo Football League Chairman Séamus Hughes.

No date has been set for Mayo FC entering an adult men's team into the League of Ireland.

Hughes said that the club would enter Under-19 boys and girls teams 'at the earliest opportunity'

The Under-14 boys team will be managed by head coach Joe Kelly, who will be assisted by Eamon Daly.

The U-15 team will be headed by Rafael Cretaro, who will be assisted by Joe Murray and Dan Gorman.

The newly-formed U-17 girls team will be managed by James Johnson, who will be assisted by Ryan Merchant and Michelle Ruane.

Mayo Football League Chairman Séamus Hughes described the move as 'a momentous occasion' and 'an exciting new chapter' for soccer in the county.

“There is a lot of work ahead before we welcome the top League of Ireland clubs to Mayo to competitive matches, and it is very hard to put an accurate time frame on this. But if everything moves at the pace it has over the past six months, we will be achieving this before very long.”

Mayo Football League officials visited Kerry FC and held extensive discussions with the FAI as part of their preparations for the setting up of the club.

FAI League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon said the new club would require 'a lot of support' in order to succeed.

“League of Ireland football itself isn't cheap. It's going to be expensive to get that level of requirements that we need to put in place to get to senior level,” Scanlon said.

He said the development would allow talented young soccer players to play elite soccer 'close to home' in the future.

“We've seen League of Ireland clubs come and go in the past, this is very much about the long-term sustainability,” Scanlon added.

Mayo TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary, said that the government would invest in Mayo FC's facilities.

Minister Calleary described the setting up the club as 'a serious statement of intent' by the Mayo Football League.

“From our point of view, anything we can do to work with the association to make this happen, to make this a priority on the ground, I am more than happy to do so,” Minister Calleary said.

Mayo TD Michael Ring also lent his support to the club, describing its launch as 'a great evening for soccer in this county'.

The Mayo Football Club board will have Donal Benson as its President, along with several existing members of the Mayo Football League Committee.

The Mayo FC board will consist of the following: Séamus Hughes (Chairman), John Durkan (Secretary), Tom McDaniel (Treasurer), Chris McHale-Roe (Public Relations Officer), Martin Kielty (Recording Secretary), Gerry Sweeney (Child Welfare Officer and Commercial Manager), James Larkin (Child Welfare Officer), Michael English (academy manager), Joe Faughnan (talent identification) and Kieran Gallagher.

For more on this story, read next Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.

ENDS