Welcome to our new website. 

What a week!!! We had it all – Tuesday was chaotic but even more so this year with 450 “little terrors” invading the hallowed Portersown turf. At 6.05 we still had no goals, doors were locked and jersey allocation was all over the place. But as we do we coped and by nights end all 30 games were completed by 9.20. view the memories

Wed, Thurs and Fri saw the real Castleknock Celtic take stage thanks to the sterling efforts of many of you. Saturday was upon us in a flash but the weather was unkind – wind wind and more wind sprinkled with rain showers and sunshine. For most of the day it was cold but the football was hot . Despite the conditions we got through it – all games starting and finishing on the button and the presentations went like clock work. All in all despite a difficult start, difficult conditions and a record number of players and matches it was a wonderful week and feedback has been very positive

The Castleknock Celtic Mini World Cup is in it’s sixth year and in our first year we wondered if we would ever get 225 kids again. Well in year 6 we had 450. INCREDIBLE. The Mini WC is not about Money indeed its not really about football it’s about the Kids. Kids in our Club and Kids from all over D15. It serves as a thank you to our own young ‘uns while also allowing us showcasing , in a very positive way, who Castleknock Celtic are. The kids have fun, play football and go home with a lot of nice goodies. Having previously been perceived by many as a taking club I think our image has changed.

I know I said it’s not really about football but we may just be a little inaccurate there. The quality of the Football played this year was really good and even though it’s mainly non-competitive try telling that to the 450 kids who just played their hearts out. Personally I have two favourite moments – a 2007 child on Mexico scoring with 1 minute to go to put his team 1 up and then celebrating the whole way down the pitch and ending up at the BBQ area mobbed by his players. Minutes later at the end of the game these players carried their Hero of the pitch. BRILLIANT. And my other one was a player from England knocking a Germany player down and then picking him to say “sorry” – wonderful Sportsmanship and that certainly didn’t happen in 1966!!! For sure this year at Porterstown and at the Mini World Cup FOOTBALL really did COME HOME.

Antonio asked me for some stats so here you have it –the Mini World Cup 2015 in numbers

·       450 players – A RECORD

·       450 Goals - A RECORD. That’s a goal per player or just under 4 per game

·       40 Teams - A RECORD

·       121 Games - A RECORD

·       C.640 Burgers, 550 sausages and god only knows how many jellies

·       And the most important stat – 450 HAPPY KIDS

All in all a wonderful week. Pat, Philip and I are at this 6 years and it works ‘cause so many others stand up and help out. There are many to Thank but here’s just a few:

·       Ainle & her Team -> who kept us all fed and watered at the BBQ area

·       Kathleen ,John  and Eamon -> for manning the shop and turning a nice profit as well!!!!

·       To all our Refs but particularly Stephen Best, Tommy Byrne, Kieran Kelly,Sean Littleton, David Curran  and Antonio Mantero who put in sterling shifts

·       To Kieran & Jimmy Kelly for organising the SSG goals for us – the work that’s never seen but essential and appreciated nonetheless

·       For always looking to help –Alan Geraghty, Ray Coyne , Paul Murgatroyd, Barry Sherlock,, David Curran, Tom Ayers, and Killian Zambra

·       Gerry Cummins & his team for prepping the pitches each day

·       Our Chairman, Jim Geraghty, who was always willing and able although the less said about his Refereeing the better!!!

…………….and finally a big thanks to BRIAN CUMMINS. Who promised to do so much but did so little !! Seriously Brian thanks for all the driving around and collecting (Tables, Food etc). If we need a Taxi we know who to call.

If I left anyone out my apologies.

Finally a reminder of the Club Open Days:

·       2007 – Mon 8^th June

·       2006 – Mon 8^th June

·       2005 – Tues 9^th June

·       2004 – Thurs 12^th June

·       2003 – Wens 11^th June

(see Club website for further info)

And so it ends for another season. All that remains is to wish you all a wonderful summer and before you know it we’ll be back in action.

Take care.

Kind regards,

David, Pat & Philip