|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Sport & Leisure Swifts are sponsored by: The DEVeNISH COMPLEX & GINO'S About the Club Achievements Players Weekly News & Reviews Seasons Statistics |
About Sport & Leisure Swifts: Sport & Leisure Swifts were founded back in 1978 by five men, and due to their individual work commitments were only able to play friendly games. However, before long, the club applied and was accepted into the Lisburn League, where they remained for three years before joining the County Down Premier League. The clubs main aim was to play in the Northern Ireland Amateur League but were denied entry on the grounds they were not affiliated to the Irish Football Association, the IFA. They applied and got into the Dunmurry League which was affiliated to the IFA; however this was just one of a long list of requirements needed for the club to join the Amateur League. The club had to have a grade A pitch for at least every Saturday of the Amateur League season to be considered for application. Belfast pitches were given to Leagues rather than individual teams, so were unable to help the club out with the regular use of a pitch. Eventually the club got a pitch in Portadown but did not get accepted into the Amateur League for a further four years when by then they had got themselves a pitch in Antrim. Meanwhile an Estate Agent was working on behalf of the club trying to find a suitable piece of land for the club to develop into a pitch solely for the club's use. After a year a suitable site was found and an offer made. However as the deal was being finalised the Belfast City Council trebled the clubs's offer, and the clubs offer was rejected. As it turned out the council's offer was also rejected, and that deal fell through. The seller then insisted that the club's offer was short of the mark but the club could not afford to go any higher, and so subsequently the land, at the last viewing still lay unused. However the clubs greatest achievements have been achieved in the last few years as after their long struggle the club made a deal with Celtic Boys to share a pitch and were given the appropriate funding to begin building their pitch. The plot of land they got is beautifully situated on the Glen Road and has a view of the whole City of Belfast. The building commenced in 2000. In 2000 the club joined forces with Dunmurry League outfit Belfast Swifts and became Sport and Leisure Swifts F.C. This has created the basis for a bright new future for a club who have went from struggling to get players and pitches to having any amount of good footballers with their own new pitch and changing rooms. Respect for the club grows by every passing month and with the ambitious leaders at the club who knows what the future holds for Sport & Leisure Swifts F.C. Club Founders: John Connolly: John is still the Chairman of the Sport & Leisure Swifts F.C. and is very active in trying to better the club at every opportunity - on and of the playing field. John Morgan: John Morgan has always been very active with the Sporting Leisure as secretary. He goes to all Amatuer league meetings and represents his and up until recently was 2nd team manager. Now he assists Jim Gillen, when not at his Manchester United matches, and his fondness for the 2nd team never fails to impress the players involved. Jim Gillen: Jim Gillen has recently came back to the club after a few years away with Celtic Boys. He came in to help John Morgan last year and has decide to stay on and give his knowledge to the 2nd team, who hope he can bring the sucess he had with the 1st team a few years back. Martin Austin: Martin Austin played for Sport & Leisure for many years through health problems. He suffered from severe Asthma. We hope that Martin will take a more active part in the club when we move to our new home. Brendan McDonnell: Brendan McDonnell was an aggressive midfield player whose career came to an end when he broke his leg playing against Lisburn Rangers. He still remains in touch with the club. |
|