Mattie McGrath warns of crisis in grassroots sport and praises clubs
Mattie McGrath spoke in support of a motion on grassroots football, praising clubs and volunteers while urging greater investment and better governance. He highlighted a DFI strategic analysis calling for £862 million to modernise facilities, congratulated the women's football squad on their first FIFA World Cup trip to Australia, and criticised governance failures.
Motion and opening remarks
McGrath thanked the movers of the motion and described it as "a very good motion." He took the opportunity to congratulate the women's football squad on their first ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup and wished them success and enjoyment on their trip to Australia.
Funding shortfall and facilities
He cited DFI's newly published strategic analysis and vision for the next 15 years, saying the association requires £862 million to modernise facilities. McGrath referred to audits showing almost 40% of pitches have temporary dressing rooms and that over 20% of clubs spend under 1,000 on pitch maintenance. He also noted that average expenditure on sport is 0.8% of GDP, while Ireland is at 0.4%, comparing Ireland unfavourably with Malta and Bulgaria.
Local clubs and volunteers
McGrath listed local clubs and volunteers who he said do "tremendous work with nothing," naming St. Michael's in Tiptown, Clonmel Town, Cashel, Peaks Villa, Bruncourt Celtic and Farish Eegies. He praised organisers including Richard Power, Nate O'Connor, John Delaney, Dennis Lehane and Tom Finnan for work in schools and communities and for organising grassroots play.
Governance and personal remarks
He criticised governance, saying it "went ran amok," and argued that support should be directed to clubs at ground level rather than other bodies. McGrath also extended sympathy to John Delaney over recent family bereavements.
Social value of sport
McGrath emphasised the broader social benefits of sport, saying it keeps young people engaged, builds character and fosters community bonding, and highlighted the extensive fundraising clubs undertake for charities.
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I wish to thank the moves of this motion, a very good motion. I wish to take the opportunity to wish to Republic violence, Menard, the women's football squad, who have thrown out to Australia for their first ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup, and I wish them very good success and enjoyment. DFI's newly published strategic analysis and vision for the next 15 years detailed that the association requires £862 million to modernise facilities as standards in Ireland. Goodness knows, I want to say with all the clubs, and with some great clubs in Tipperary, and we have great organisers like Richard Power, the Tipperary District League, and indeed, Nate O'Connor, former county manager, did great work with John Delaney, let's face it, and with Dennis Lehane and others, that organise these people to get into schools and organise the sport, so playing a kick-up game. We have clubs in St. Michael's in Tiptown, world-renowned, Care Park, fabulous facilities, over 105 or 60 years old, and indeed, Clonmel Town, and Cashel, and Peaks Villa, you name them. Out in the rural areas, there's Bruncourt Celtic, and indeed, Farish Eegies, and so many of them there that do tremendous work with nothing. I salute the men and women that support the clubs and the teams, because they are the real movers. Audits carried out each county's pitches realities have shown that almost 40% of pitches have temporary dressing rooms, are tireless, while over 20% of clubs spend on pitch maintenance falls under 1,000. Old British and another one, and they have had huge trouble there with trespass and with animals breaking in and everything else, so in Clonmel. The average expenditure on sport is 0.8% GDP, and Ireland are 0.4% and we are there in good company, bad company really, Malta and Bulgaria. We are at the bottom of the league, it's very, very sad, as I said, all the different clubs, because sport is one thing that keeps young people, whether it's the swirling in football, rugby, the soccer, ladies football, everything, it gives them great outlets and great character formation, and go on to be hugely successful. Tom Finnan in St. Michael in Tiptown, and many, many others, who have fabulous work and dedicate their lives to it. And could I also extend sympathy to John Delaney, he lost his father recently, and his mother only short time ago as well. Look, governance went ran amok, because we see governance, not only the FAI and the ordinary people, must be supported, not the KLA, so we have to support the clubs at ground level, support the people that are driving this, have the vision and the passion to get achievements for Ireland, but also for all the individuals involved, such bonding, you will never see the likes of it, and the amount of fundraising they do for charities as well is huge. Thank you.
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