My name is Paul Hyland and I run FTS Recovery & Towing from Dunsoghly Park in Finglas West. Usually when you hear from us it’s about breakdowns, flat batteries or a car that needs collecting. This time I want to talk about something closer to home.
My son plays for Finglas United Under-11s, and FTS is now the shirt sponsor for the team. The lads are wearing the FTS Recovery & Towing logo on their jerseys this season, and I couldn’t be prouder seeing it. It’s a small thing in the bigger picture, but I wanted to explain why it matters to me and why I think more local businesses should get behind clubs like this one.
A club built by Finglas West
A lot of people don’t realise how much history is behind Finglas United Youth Football Club. The club as it is today was formed in 2015, when two long-standing local clubs, WFTA Football Club and Mellowes B.D.S., decided to amalgamate. Both clubs go back to the road leagues of the 1950s and 60s, and between them they had over 100 years of history in Finglas West.
The reason for the merger made a lot of sense to me. For years, clubs in the area were competing against each other for pitches, money and volunteers. Talented young players often ended up signing for clubs outside Finglas to get a chance at success. Bringing the two clubs together meant building one stronger club for the area instead of splitting what was there. You can read more on the club’s history page.
For an area that has always loved its football, I think that was the right call.
Fun first, development always
What I like most about Finglas United is the way they look at kids’ football. The club says every child should make new friends, have fun and develop both as a person and as a footballer. They group players within age groups based on how each child is developing, because kids learn at different speeds. And they’re open about the fact that winning games comes second to player development.
As a parent, that’s exactly what you want to hear. At under-11 level, the most important thing is that the kids enjoy it, keep turning up and grow in confidence. If they’re having fun and learning, the results take care of themselves.
That approach only works because of the managers, coaches and parents who give up their evenings and weekends. None of them are doing it for money. They’re doing it for the kids, and they deserve all the support they can get.
Football For All
One part of the club I think deserves real recognition is the Football For All programme. It gives boys and girls aged 5 to 18 access to team sport, including children with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, hearing impairments and Down syndrome, as well as wheelchair users. The sessions take place at Leisure Point in Finglas.
For a lot of families, finding a sport where their child is welcomed and gets the same chance to play as everyone else isn’t easy. Having that available right here in Dublin 11 is something the whole community should be proud of. The club also runs an academy for the youngest players, so kids can start learning the game early in a safe, friendly setting.
Why local businesses should get involved
Running a youth football club costs money. There’s kit, footballs, pitch hire, training equipment, insurance, travel to away games and plenty more. Clubs like Finglas United rely on membership, their lotto, merchandise, fundraising and the support of local sponsors to keep everything going.
I’m a small local business myself, so I know not everyone can write a big cheque. But support doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference. Sponsoring a team’s kit, helping out with equipment, supporting a fundraiser or giving your time all count. If you run a business in Finglas and you’re thinking about it, the club has a page explaining how to become a club sponsor.
For me it comes down to this. The kids playing for Finglas United today are the people who’ll be running businesses, coaching teams and raising families in this area in years to come. Giving them somewhere positive to go, a team to be part of and adults who believe in them is one of the best things a community can do.
Part of the Finglas community
FTS Recovery & Towing is based in Finglas West, Dublin 11, and most of our work is right here in North Dublin. A lot of the people we help are our neighbours, the same people we see at the shops, at the school gate and on the sideline on match day.
We’re on call 24/7 for car recovery in Finglas and right across North Dublin, from towing a car that won’t start to roadside assistance when you’re stuck with a flat battery or a breakdown. We also cover breakdown recovery across Dublin and jump start assistance for cars and vans. You can see all the areas we cover on our website.
But being local means more than where the truck is parked at night. It means caring about what happens in the area, and backing the people and clubs that make Finglas the place it is.
Good luck to the team
I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Finglas United, especially the coaches and volunteers behind the Under-11s. The time and effort you put in doesn’t go unnoticed by the parents, and it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed by the kids.
To the players, keep working hard, keep enjoying it and keep supporting each other. We’ll be cheering you on.
And if you’re ever stuck on the road in Finglas or anywhere in North Dublin, give us a call on 085 855 5261. We’re local, and we’re always happy to help.
Paul Hyland, FTS Recovery & Towing
