St. John Bosco FC

Founded 1957

Co. Dublin

30 Club

Colly Martin 

 

I joined the Bosco in 1980, two weeks after Garrette. Our managers over the years included Mick Byrne from Errigal, Johnny Rayner, Paul Farrell, John o Halloran, Paul McGovern, Anto McGlynn and Paul Martyn. I know I'm leaving a few more out. I’ve been a player, a manager, committee member and a physio. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. 

From the start this club was special, great trips as a kid to Wales, Isle of Man, France & the famous trip to Killarney (Doyler!). I remember upstairs in the Bosco with the pool, table tennis competitions and Larry's sweet shop. The Indoor football downstairs when the stage was still there! Loads of funny memories but my favourite would have to be when tiger let the ball drop over his head for the centre forward to go through and score, while Paul McGovern was shouting what is he doing?, And tiger replied that there was 63 chimneys around benner! 

There are too many other funny stories to mention. Best playing days was Paul McGoverns team, great friendly games against antos team. I've played with so many great players but the two that stand out for me is Joe Higgins & Trevor Carolan. We’ve gone through plenty of promotions & cup wins over the years but my favourite as a player was the Referees shield and Paisley Deering cup as a manager. Holding the record of the most goals from corners still stands Anto tells me. My proudest moment was receiving the Gerry cloak award for clubman of the year on the 50th anniversary. I miss Gerry, Brian ,Marie & The great John o Halloran etc.That's what makes this club special, we're a family & when we meet up even if it's been a while, it's like we've never been away. I love this club with every bone in my body & if I was sitting in the dressing room now, before a game I'd be as nervous as if I was still that 9 year old kid. UTB

 

 

 

Mark Leavy 

 

I Joined St John Bosco in 1982 I was aged 10, Anto mc Glynn and Derek Kavanagh were my managers. I played school boy all the way to under 18s, I then went under 19s still with my manager Anto. 

We went senior after that until around 2003/4. Then played night owls till 2008 .I then carried on to help for a year in the nursery during 2007. I then took a kids team from 2008 to 2013 .We received Club honours, under 18a league winners , bobby best cup runner up , Aul div 3 a league winners , unidare cup winners , div 2 runners up , frank row cup winners , div 1 b runners up and div1 a runners up . 

There are too many great games to pick out one! There were some great battles against glebenorth remember frog eyes, harry, Anto! In the school boy years the games against broom bridge, ballymun and play print in senior days. Proudest times were captaining senior side to 4 promotions in 5 seasons also seeing my son jack making his debut in benner wearing my number 5 jerseys he too has played all his school boy football for the Bosco. Hopefully he can be another one club man .I’ve made some of my best friends through the Bosco these friendships will last a lifetime , I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the club committee for their tireless efforts and unseen work that goes into keeping the club going for all the years past and many , many years to come . Special thanks to Anto McGlynn for keeping me and many others playing football when we could have taken other paths. . I think at this point I have been involved in the Bosco for 31 years. There are so many more great memories over the years. I don’t think there's a club in the land has the character and best interest of the community at its heart. UTB. 

 

 

Mark Jenkinson 

 

Right lads I first kicked a ball for Bosco in 81 aged 8 and I last kicked a ball in 2014 at 41. (Due to violent pressure to stop playing by team mates) In that time I played/managed schoolboy level and played and managed senior level. Also had various jobs on the committee or whatever Willie Kavanagh ear bashed me into doing. Some of my schoolboy managers consist of paddy McGlynn Andy Kavanagh and ray Connell and Pablo Murray. There's been a lot of senior management changes in the time I played but Paul & Anto would be the most consistent managing me for the guts of 10 years. Thanks lads for all you efforts over them years you only appreciate how hard it is when You do it yourself. Most memorable game was u13 in the Isle of Man. We beat Manchester Utd youths in the final 2-0 to win the Azaria Trophy. Ultimate underdog story. We had the bare 11. No manager. Anto stepped in. Luckily they played the semi-final and final back to back and were shattered. Still, always good to get one over on them. There is no way I could pick a favourite moment. Just to many. From our camping trips (as a kid) to watching Ireland away (as adults). From all the success on the pitch it would be unfair to pick one. I'd like to thank everybody who came and went over my time there and of course the ever presents that make the club the family that it is. UTB.

 

 

Anto McGlynn  

 

I Joined the club in 1982 as a manager of the under 12s. I was with the team all the way through school boy winning the 18A league that season in 1989/1990 and then in under 19s A.U.L. 1990/1991 season. 

That season we finished 3rd in the league and runner up in the Bobby Best cup. We then went onto div 3A in the A.U.L. we won the league and the Unidare Cup. Next season we were in div 2A runner up in the league and won the Frank Row cup. Then we went into div 1B and we came runners up. We went into div 1A again coming runner up. The next season Premier C stepped down as manager that year after 13 years to become secretary to the A.U.L. 10/ 11 years. I then went back as assistant to Paul Martin in the first Saturday side and then to div 1 Sunday with Paul and on to premier C B and A ...My best moments was during the season 1989/ 1990 and winning the under 18 A league and the iceing on the cake was Ireland made it to the World cup finals. 

 

 

Alan O'Halloran 

 

I Joined Bosco in 1980 with Johnny Reynor and Eddie o Reilly as my manager. We trained in Errigal field. The team included Matt Kerrigan, Collie Martin, Ray and John Carolan and Brian Fitzgerald. 

Mick Byrne took us for a while. So did Mr Fitzgerald. I Played 4 years till u14. I then came back to u15 with Paul McGovern.I Left for st Pat's but came home at u 18. 

The most Memorable year was when we won the referees shield. Wonderful partnership in midfield with Joe Higgins. Played u19s but had to leave as senior side played Sunday which I worked. Returned when Saturday team was started, and enjoyed 13 years of wonderful football and friendship under the stewardship of Anto McGlynn, Liam Fitzgerald, Paul Martyn and Domo Murphy. Here the holy Trinity was formed with Domo and Killer. Was privileged to play with the late, great Gerry Cloak and Brian Behan. There are far too many other quality players that I had the pleasure to play with to mention, but you know who you are. When it was time to call time on senior league football, the need to stay with the marvellous group meant we played night owls league for four more years. In the meantime, started managing u7s team with Kevin Brennan in 2000. Continued with them with the help of Larry Harrison, Austin Kenny, and then with Robert Costello until 2008. Returned to help Anto Mc Glynn and paddy stokes for their u17and 18s years. Started with girl’s team helping Lisa Cleary, Karen Rooney, and Willie Kavanagh in 2006, joined by Paddy Stokes and later Wendy Burgess to bring the girls all the way from u7s to u18s in 2017. Became senior ladies coach in 2016 to help Paddy Doyle and Wendy Burgess. I am currently coaching the ladies with Mick Noonan which include a number of the girls that I first coached at u7s. In 2000, Antoalso convinced me to become ddsl small sided Secretary, a position which I've continued in ever since, added to Dwsl and Mgl Secretary. Phew....Never thought I'd get to the end of that. Best memories include camping trips to Clockleagh, social trips with the seniors, some of which I can't or won't give details and the magical day in Carrick in 2007. Most prized possession is the Marie McDonnell award for outstanding contribution to the Club in memory of a wonderfully special lady. Proudest moment is leading the girls team onto the first ever brickfields all weather match and the unveiling of the bench outside it in memory of my late father John o Halloran. Also the unbelievable support shown by the Bosco family before during and since his passing. UTB

 

 

Garrette Martin 

 

I started training with the Bosco at the age of 8 (1980) with Paul Farrell’s (Fiddlers) team, then joined Paul McGovern’s team and then onto Anto McGlynn and Derek Kavanagh team. We played u12 for 2 years Anto will correct me on this and getting hammered every week. The best win was against Carriglea boys because it was our first ever win 4-3! again Anto can check his little black book. The Dessie Way bus was buzzing on the way home after that. Poor auld Dessie “the 1 hour trip that took 4 hours”. Most of that team stuck together and with the lads from bulfin joining us in later years we had a great schoolboy team that went all the way to senior football. 

I played with some great players at different stages, to many to mention. One of the funniest moments in a match is when Niall Skelly points at a player on the pitch and shouts over to Anto and says is this the player you want me to kick and the referee staring at him. Have to say all the trips that we went on from the Isle of Man to all our weekends away in Ireland have been brilliant. Even now when we meet up for charity games (even if you pull a muscle in the warm up) there’s still a great buzz putting on the black and white jersey. I retired 8 years ago and I still miss training and playing for the Bosco. UTB 

 

 

 

Paddy Doyle 

 

I joined in 1983, I played for the U13s with Anto Mc Glynn as my manager.I Continued playing throughout my teen years onto U19s.I then went on to play for seniors with Anto again and then Paul Martyn as manager.I finished playing in 2001 and became assistant manager to Domo, I went on to manage the senior team and was league secretary for the senior mens team for 5-6 years.I went on to manage the girls seniors team and league secretary first spell 2002-2005 second spell 2008-10 and 2015-17.I was the assistant manager for U10's up until U13's (2014-2017).I played Nightowls from 2001-2005. 

Mark Leavy and I took a turn at managing .I was PRO officer during 90's for couple of years. Im here 34years this year .My most memorable game hands down was Carrick away in the FAI Jnr cup year and I had retired at that stage. It was a Great day .My fondest memory would have to be the last trip we made to the Isle of Man in the eighties, It was outstanding..Very quiet mind ye!! UTB

 

 

 

Wille Kavanagh 

 

In 1981 I had my first training session with the Bosco which took place in Errigal field along with Johnny Raynor and Mick Byrne.I then Played for Paul 

Mc Govern for 2 seasons and Anto Mc Glynn and Derek Kavanagh for 3 seasons, up to under 15s. 

I started managing in 1990 with Mark Jenkinson and later with Trevor Shanley. We brought this team all the way up to 18 Premier. The team was made up of a very talented group of players including George Costello, Andrew Baker, Noddy Byrne, Sean Keogh and John Shannon all of who went 

onto to coach teams in the club. Sadly we lost two members of that squad Brian Behan and David Dowling. These two players were instrumental in our under 17’s Major league winning team and are both sadly missed. 

I Started again in 2000 with Brendan Carroll and later with Derek Devlin coaching Stephen Roche, Ian Ellis and Stephen Sandford, all 3 currently playing for our senior team. In 2005 my daughter Ali began her Bosco career, most of that team they have moved all the way from nursery to senior ladies football So as well as coaching the boys I also managed the girls team with Lisa Cleary, Karen Rooney, Alan O Halloran, Paddy Stokes, and Wendy Burgess. 

In 2008 my daughter Hollie and son Liam started in the nursery, I took charge of this team with the help of Noddy Byrne and Mick Burke 

I am currently coaching our under 15s boys with Philip Shortt and Ken Pullen and our under 18s girls with Wendy Burgess and Alan O Halloran. 

My Bosco highlights would have to be all the memoires i have from being a player and all the trips away, camping in Cloughlee, Isle of Man and my time as a coach bringing the teams to Paris and Amsterdam 

The Most memorable games would have to be beating St Pauls away to win the 17 Major league in 1999.Then in 2007 Being 3 -1 down against Hillcrest in the final game of the season and winning 4-2 to win the league, The O Leary Cup Final win in 2015 winning 4-2 after being down 2 nil, and last but not least the semi-final win against Terenure with our under 18’s Girls team, This was very special win as it was the first game to be played on the new all-weather pitch in brick field park. It was an unbelievable day one which i think will stay in the memories of every manager, player and spectator. 

UTB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download ClubZap

Get live information for Club on the ClubZap App

App Store Google Play