Newry social soccer fun day is a winner for local charities… story, action and presentation pictures

Damolly players celebrate a goal against Rosario (pictures: AIDAN CARROLL)

LOCAL charities were the biggest winner as Newry Showgrounds hosted the town’s second annual Summer Social Soccer tournament, which will now become a permanent fixture.

Social soccer gives women opportunity to participate in football, with the focus purely on fitness and social activities.

Since hosting our the first social soccer tournament in November, it was encouraging for the organisors to see the growth of social soccer since then as teams also travelled to play from the Republic of Ireland. They joined Armagh Social Ladies, Damolly Social Ladies, Sarsfield Social Ladies, Rosario Social Ladies, Camlough Social Ladies, Ards Rangers Social Ladies, two teams from Ball Busters in Dublin and hosts Ashgrove Social Ladies.

Even the sun appeared to spectate at the ladies fabulous skills on display!

Organiser Maria Millar, of Ashgrove, said: “We want to encourage ladies to enjoy social soccer and get involved, we were mindful some players had never played against another team, therefore we were determined to ease any pre-match nerves.

“Cadhla, from NDTA, wore a pink flamingo suit and warmed us up with some dancing and Danny Doran cooled us down with a few tunes post-match. We were grateful to be kindly supported by chairperson Valerie Harte and many local businesses to be able to organise a fun day with bouncy castles and a rodeo that soon set the fun vibes.

“Our focus was on having fun, we also decided to raise money for two charities close to our hearts, the Happiness Cafe and Armagh-Dpwn Women’s Aid.

“Everyone who played should be proud of participating as an achievement alone. We added trophies for player of the tournament which we named Ray of Sunshine, the winner being Hallie from Ards Rangers and to the overall winners, based on fancy dress, won by the tigresses, Ball Busters.

“We are excited to be on our social soccer journey, we have sponsors from the Phoenix Bar and Just Good Grub on board and are awaiting the arrival of our Ashgrove Ladies jerseys and half zips as we plan to venture north and south as there is a social soccer network developing. Everyone is welcome kick about with us on Monday and Wednesdays from 8.00pm to 9.00pm in the Abbey School, Newry.”