President's Message 2023/24
2024/25 is the 150th anniversary of the founding of the IRFU. It is an opportune time to consider the history of Wanderers FC and its place in Irish rugby. *On 14 December 1874 representatives of Wanderers, Trinity, Lansdowne, Dungannon, Monaghan, Portora, and Bray founded the Irish Football Union (IFU) at 39 Grafton Street. It was necessary to found a union in order to arrange the first international fixture with England, which took place in February 1875. The IFU became the IRFU on 5 February 1880 when the IFU and the Northern Football Union merged. Clubs which predate the change to IRFU are denoted FC rather than RFC. It is against this backdrop, that Wanderers FC enters its 155th year. Wanderers FC is the second oldest club in Ireland; Trinity, founded in 1852, being the oldest.
It is important to remember our history, our traditions and our forefathers but equally important to look to the future. Season 2024/25 sees the completion of the initial phase of the club development. The all-weather pitch and training areas, fibre-sand main pitch with in-built irrigation from our own well, quality floodlights, and the gym, are top class facilities for our players and teams. Thanks must go to the Development Committee under the chairmanship of John Fitzpatrick for developing these facilities. Thanks also to Declan O'Brien who oversaw the project on the ground.
Urgent maintenance work saw the closure of the clubhouse over the summer months. Unfortunately, this resulted in unavoidable disruption to the usual summer activities and pre-season training. The works were required due to the age of our clubhouse facilities which reinforces the case for a clubhouse development.
We now have a rugby strategy with targets to guide the club to 2030 and beyond with emphasis on participation, development and performance. I welcome Stan McDowell as the newly appointed Director of Rugby who will be integral in driving the rugby strategy with the assistance of club volunteers. This will be a whole club approach encompassing and supporting minis, youths, social rugby, and adult men’s & women’s teams.
I thank, in advance, your Executive Committee and all the club volunteers without whom it would not be possible to operate the many facets of Wanderers FC. I encourage all members to give some time to assist in running the club. I wish all players and team managements an exciting and enjoyable season.