Club and school prove it pays to play ball

SPORTING TIES ST AIDAN'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND SHAMROCK ROVERS: Emmet Riordanlooks at how the link between the club and Robbie Keane's alma mater will also be of huge benefit to the community in Tallaght

THEY HAVE been roving now for over 20 years, a club with a great tradition but without a place to call home since houses were built on Glenmalure Park in the late 1980s.

But for Shamrock Rovers that's all about to change as they count down the days to the unveiling of their new base in Tallaght.

And while the development of the new ground has been beset with problems and delays, the club have continued to sow the seeds of development in the west Dublin community even when the cranes stood idle over the stadium.

One of the most successful schemes has seen the club offer a soccer scholarship in conjunction with St Aidan's Community School in west Tallaght, listed by the Department of Education as catering for students in a disadvantaged area.

The link between the club and the school has turned that into an advantage to both sides with 21 boys and girls now enrolled in the scheme, which is in its third year.

The initial groundwork from the school involved the then principal, Michael Meade, while Kevin Fahy, a former secretary of the Football Association of Ireland and teacher at St Aidan's, was able to use his extensive knowledge and contacts in the game to get things up and running.

Frank Moran, the present principal at St Aidan's, has seen the partnership flourish over the last three years and believes it represents a vital link between both the school and the club, and indeed the wider community.

"It creates a further connection between kids in the school and their community. In an area like west Tallaght if kids become disconnected that's when problems begin," says Moran. "It's vital because with that connection comes pride in your area and out of that there's less anti-social behaviour, better attendance and better academic performance and that's what it's all about.

"The particular students in this project would seldom miss a day from school and that's in an area where a lot of kids don't want to go to school at all. One of our biggest challenges is to make school attractive, to make it pupil-centred and to try and avoid any alienation. That's key in an area like this," he adds.

St Aidan's has had a fine tradition in soccer in its 25 years, with Robbie Keane leading the list of past pupils at the school. His cousin, Jason Byrne, and Jason Gavin are just two more players to have passed through over the years, while sisters Joanne and Maureen Ennis have played international football for Ireland.

Keane's Republic of Ireland jersey takes pride of place at the entrance to St Aidan's, with Shamrock Rovers' green and white Hoops on the opposite wall.

The scholarship involves each student receiving a bursary from the club, while the school uses the book rental scheme to ensure the lucky ones receive a free education while taking part in the scheme.

With that comes responsibility according to career guidance counsellor Kevin Tunney, who oversees the scholarship programme.

"Everything on this is linked to their behaviour, their classwork, their performance on and off the pitch. The criteria would be respect for others, homework and punctuality," says Tunney, who played junior football with Dublin.

"It's reviewed every year. It doesn't necessarily mean if you're on it one year you'll be on it next year if you're not up to scratch and reaching your potential. These kids are meant to be an example to all the other kids around the place," adds Tunney.

Shamrock Rovers have also provided an interactive computer package to the school, while all the students on the scheme have received laptop computers under the South Dublin County Council Connect programme of E Learning.

Tunney also points to the involvement of Rovers players, who have also taken a keen interest in the programme in offering coaching and advice to the students. "Last year Seán O'Connor and Stephen Rice came in for 10 weeks and did some coaching with the kids during lunchtime. That was a great hit with them, not just on basic skills but also things like diet," admits Tunney.

The players have also passed on their experiences of trials at English clubs to some of the more promising players such as Hardy Shampe and Arnold Pandababo, who have already been spent time with Premier League clubs Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

The scholarship is just one of the many ways that Shamrock Rovers have went about making their presence felt in the community, long before a ball is kicked at the new stadium. Last Friday, four players from the club received scholarships to Tallaght IT, while the schoolboy section caters for 19 teams at present.

Club promotions officer Paddy McQuaid believes the link between club and community is key to the success of Rovers in Tallaght.

"If you look around Tallaght the footprint of Shamrock Rovers is pretty large already. It's not as if the stadium came and we arrived, we've been up there for a long time, putting in the groundwork," says McQuaid.

"We see ourselves going in as a cornerstone of the community in Tallaght, kids starting at primary school, being involved with our schoolboy section and through third-level and hopefully getting into our under-20s and A championship sides before maybe going on to play for the senior team."

Tunney believes the arrival of Rovers will not just mark a key point in the sporting history of Tallaght, but will provide a huge boost to the area across the board.

"The lift it's going to give the whole area will be unbelievable. To give the youth a focus for their energies, there seems to be a momentum building and an enthusiasm towards Rovers coming to Tallaght."

Twenty-plus years on the road and yet to move into their new home, Shamrock Rovers already have their feet firmly under the table of what has the makings of a great relationship.