“All I did was put the ball in the net.”

Bath United was formed in 2003 as an under 15s football team. In their second year, the boys from the under 15s moved on to the Railway Union team and Bath United formed an under 12s team. This new team joined the South Dublin Football League (SDFL).

In the first season the team finished in fourth place in the league, having lost a few bogey matches. The highlight of this year though, was being invited to compete in a mini tournament, the Netherlands Cup in Lou-Hurst, Holland.

This was a really enjoyable experience for all the team members and them made good friends. The players were not only a credit to their parents but also a credit to their country, as they showed great sportsmanship and respect for their fellow competitors. They finished third and this was amazing considering it was their first season.

Thanks to Ballsbridge Motors, Water Born, Tony Byrne Crash Repairs, Shipwright, McInerney Builders, Ezio’s, Euro Sales and Shelbourne House for their support.

For Bath United’s (now under 13s team) second season, the parents of team members set up a committee and the club is now currently under new management with Jason Flood as manager, David Kemple as secretary, Pauline Bolger as child welfare office, Peter Dowling as chairman and Robbie McDonald as treasurer.

A lot of work and money is needed to keep a football club running and we are very grateful to the Raytown Bar, Gary Costello and Kevin Maughan for helping us with insurance. Thanks also to Ringsend Rovers and Bridge United for helping us with footballs and the much needed ‘bonus balls’.

Michael Quann and Robbie McDonald do a great job selling the bonus balls every Friday and Saturday night in the Shelbourne House and the Raytown Bar, so thanks also to Eddie and Harry of the Shelbourne and Cliff in the Raytown Bar for allowing us to do so. Thanks too to Barbara Flood, who performs the unenviable task of washing the team’s jerseys.

The Directors of the Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre have very generously sponsored the team tracksuits. This all adds to the team spirit and the boys look great coming to and from the matches.

The under 13s are on top of the league, having been undefeated for nine matches, drawing once and losing one match 1-0. If they get just six points out of the remaining matches they will win the league.

Jason Flood is doing a great job in his first year of management. The lads love the training and enjoy their football without being under pressure. Doing the best they can is all that is ever asked of the boys.

David Kemple (known locally as Smasher) is to be commended for his exceptional commitment, positive attitude and his adaptability in the running of Bath United. He organised the wheels on the goalpost, the marking of the pitch and makes sure everything is ready for the Sunday morning kick-off.

One of the biggest overheads in the football club is transport. The total cost of transport to and from an away match is €80. Any help that parents can give by driving the boys to away matches would be much appreciated.

When we were in Lou-Hurst at the quarter finals, it was brilliant to see the elation on Brian Grey’s face when he scored the winning goal. It made the whole tournament and all the hard nights of training worthwhile. Better still when he got off the pitch he said “All I did was put the ball in the net,” implying he hadn’t done as much as his team mates had done getting the ball to him. That’s what it’s really all about.

Bath to the Future
The future looks bright for Bath United. The club is run so professionally and has come so far in such a short time. Currently they sit proudly on top of Division 2 League Sunday with 31 points after 12 games. The battle for honours has turned into a two horse race between Bath United and Cashel Celtic who are on 18 points but have four games in hand.

Bath United’s biggest result to date was the destruction of Green Park 12:1. Compliments to Mister Consistence, Gary Mullen, with his goal tally of 13 in 12 games. As regards club captain, Bath doesn’t have one in particular as Manager, Jason Flood introduced a new system to the game by rotating the captaincy amongst the players, which creates morale and obviously works.

Pictured from top: Peter Dowling with Cliff from the Raytown Bar; Bath United Under 13s; Lorraine Brady, Manager of Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre presenting team tracksuits for Bath United to David Kemple, James Kelly and Daniel McGuinness; Jordan Buckley meets his hero Brian O’Driscoll.