SOCCER: Limavady United Chairman appeals for the local community to 'lend its support' for the season ahead

The formation of a supporters club, was one of the items discussed at Limavady United's AGM on Monday night, the best attended for 'many years'.

Limavady will host Irish Cup winners Coleraine in a pre-season friendly in July.

David Young, Chairman, reported on a year of on field consolidation as the club returned to the senior football for the first time in a decade. After three years of success the target for the club was to hold its own at a much more competitive level.

Young paid tribute to the hard working committee members who contributed so much behind the scenes. After expressing the gratitude of all to outgoing manager Paul Owens and his back room staff of Adrian McLaughlin, Michael Cooke, and Andy Nicholl.

The club are enthusiastic about the new managerial team of Sean Friars, Ryan McCreadie and Alister Pomeroy, who were already actively preparing for a challenging season, and scouting for players to strengthen the squad.

A perennial disappointment was the difficulty in galvanising the local community to lend its support to the team. So much more could be achieved if only the Limavady sporting public would come to matches. He also made an appeal to local businesses to reap the benefits of aligning themselves with the senior sporting club in the town, with a range of attractive sponsorship opportunities on offer.

Young also called on anyone in the town who was willing to assist the club in any way to come forward when they would be given an exciting opportunity to develop their organisational skills and become part of a dedicated team while making a real difference. From stewarding to media management, there were numerous opportunities for anyone wishing to learn new skills.

The treasurer, Michael Carlin, then presented his report on the finances in a challenging year, which in spite of ever-increasing financial commitments still showed a set of accounts which would be welcome in many boardrooms.

The chairman then declared all offices vacant and the ensuing election produced the following results: Chairman- David Young Vice-Chairman- David Brewster Secretary- Bill Ely Treasurer- Michael Carlin Committee- Michael McCloskey, James McCorkell, Jonathan Drain, Timmy Dixon, and John Nixon. Mr Liam Kelly was appointed as an honorary Vice-President of the club.

Admission prices were fixed at £7 and £5, the same as for the previous season, with season tickets set at £80 and £60. Children would be admitted for free. The club selected the Foyle Hospice as its chosen charity.

Plans were discussed for the formation of a supporters club after several years without one.

A list of pre-season fixtures had been arranged:

Newbuildings (A) - 6 July

Coleraine (H) - 21 July

Ballymena United (H) - 28 July