The project is a phenomenal success and the hope is that funding can be sourced in order to continue the program and move forward. Midnight Soccer is primarily funded by the PSNI and facilitated and managed by Sports Development Officers.
The main aim of the project is to provide a novel and fun way to engage 14-17 year olds in the late evening and to encourage them to channel their energies in a healthy and positive way but also to encourage disenfranchised youth into a structured sporting experience.
The project has highlighted the positive role that sport can play in developing the community and it has addressed community safety issues by contributing towards diversionary activity from less positive behaviour.
The ethos is to create something constructive for teenagers to do at weekends.
The project is free to participants and to date the funding received has covered all costs.
In year two Moyle District Council worked in partnership with the PSNI and collectively the funding allowed the project to grow and include the Causeway Champions League the first ever inter council football competition.
This was held at the Quay Road Sports Complex in 2008 and teams from Ballymoney and Coleraine participated in the competition.
Coleraine United emerged as the winners below is team Captain and Goal Keeper Gary Quinn receiving the inaugural trophy from Sgt Colin Shaw of the PSNI and Madeleine Black Madam Chairperson of Moyle District Council 2008.
The 2009 competition was hosted by John Fall Community Sports Development Officer for Ballymoney Borough Council and facilitated by Stephen McCartney and Grace McMullan Community Sports Development Officers for Coleraine and Moyle respectively.
We are extremely proud of the two teams that represented Moyle at this competition. They did not emerge outright winners however, all the players conducted themselves in a very positive manner and displayed an excellent sporting attitude when victorious and also in defeat.
Again, we all had a very enjoyable evening at the Joey Dunlop sport Complex in Ballymoney. Our thanks to John Fall of Ballymoney Sports Development Department for hosting and organising the Second Causeway Champions League.
The 2009 Moyle Midnight Soccer Tournament involved a seven a side competition with those who attended the project throughout the year and again these young boys thoroughly enjoyed the three hours of football at the Astro Turf Sports Complex in Ballycastle. This was a fun filled evening with some excellent football skills on display for those watching.
Following are the teams and award winners that participated and in the 2009 competition.
On the last evening of the Moyle Midnight Soccer project presentations were made to all participants. Also special awards were given to three young people who were judged to have been good ambassadors to their sport and who displayed commitment and discipline to the project.
The coaching team also felt that these young people would progress into becoming good teachers/coaches for the youth of the Moyle area in the future.
The three chosen to receive the awards from Inspector Brian Hume of the PSNI were;
1. Rachel Glenn
2. Brett Dornan
3. Chris McDonald
Rachel is a pupil at Ballycastle High School and she is a keen footballer with both her school and her club Dervock Ladies. Rachel spent her work placement at Sheskburn Recreation Centre working with recreation staff and sports development staff where her devotion to sport especially football shone through.
It is hoped that she will develop and encourage young girls of the Moyle area through her experience in sports development and through receiving this IFA Level One Coaching Award. It is also hoped that more girls will take part in Midnight soccer during the incoming season. After becoming qualified these young people will work in youth soccer projects run by Moyle District Council in order to gain experience and also to put something back into an organisation through which they have gained so many positive experiences.
The Midnight Soccer Footballers with their presentations/awards on the last night for the third season 2008-2009.
Football is very much alive in the Moyle area. The young girls and young boys from the area are very keen and very talented. It would be great to see this talent harnessed and developed in a positive way through the right channels.
Lastly, we want to thank the following for their contribution to the development of football in the Moyle area.
They are relentless in their conviction to the youth of the area and the development of football. Daniel Mc Laughlin, Martin Jamieson, Mark Dinsmore and Jason Cunningham.