Seagulls In The Community Launch at Carlisle Grounds Bray. Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Paul O’Brien, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District and FSR Officer, Cllr Dermot O’Brien, Chairman of Bray Wanderers, Tony Richardson, FSR Officer, Robbie Doyle
Bray Wanderers sponsors James Healy of Match Hero, Dan Gorman of Axa Insurance, Ciaran Farrell of PTSB Wicklow, Club Chairman Tony Richardson, Olwyn McCauley and John Crean of Outdoor Living, at the ‘Seagulls In The Community Launch’ at Carlisle Grounds, Bray. Photos: Leigh Anderson.
From Ardmore Rovers: Karl O’Broin, Jonathan Costello, Cormac O’Broin, Graham Costello, Stewart Graham.
Cliff Henry and Cian Nelson (League of Ireland), Gary Lewins of Bray Wanderers, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Cllr Dermot O’Brien and Des Tomlinson (FAI).
A huge crowd turned out at Bray Wanderers’ Carlisle Grounds on Friday, September 27, but not for a match on this occasion, but to mark the launch of the club’s Football and Social Responsibility (FSR) strategy, ‘Seagulls in the Community’ in the fanzone.
Club Chairman Tony Richardson spoke about the journey so far under his stewardship, and how community was always going to be a key element in terms of the ambitions of this club.
“We have shown our intentions with the work we’ve done over the past year in particular, so with the support of the FAI and Healthy Communities, this strategy is the very natural next step as we look to consolidate that work and build on it with key strategic partners,” he explained.
“’Seagulls in the Community’ represents a sincere commitment to leveraging our position as a football club to uplift, support, and engage with our diverse local community. It is testament to our belief in the power of collaboration, education, and sustainability to create a better, more inclusive community for all,” he said.
Bray’s FSR officers Cllr Dermot O’Brien and Robbie Doyle shared some examples of the programmes while outlining the future ambitions of the strategy. The success of walking football, primary school programmes, community outreach, Down Syndrome futsal, climate champions, collaborative work with other agencies and the huge potential for positive impacts represent a solid scaffolding for continuing the positive momentum that has already been created.
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, former referee Cllr Paul O’Brien, commended the strategy and acknowledged in particular how volunteers within football clubs are so important.
He reflected on how a willingness to be “innovative and ambitious is a key element of positive change, and when we work together, we will always achieve more than if we work in isolation”.
Also, on the night a new suite of social media accounts dedicated to Seagulls in the Community were launched.
