A large crowd gathered in Arena 7 last night for the Ballyraine FC Christmas draw.
A massive effort was put in by the club committee, club coaches and parents over the last 3 months to make the draw a resounding success. The draw raised a total of €37,000 which will be used for the ongoing pitch development project.
Club secretary Charlie Shiels addressed the crowd and thanked coaches, parents and the sponsors for their support. He said he was very humbled by the good will and support the small schoolboy club had received.
Charlie also acknowledges the support and thanked the various sponsors which included Dessie Kelly FAI, Donegal Oil Company, Evolve Menswear, BizPrint Arena7, Donegal Celtic Supports Club, the Brewery Bar, Benedicts Hotel in Belfast.
MC on the night was club vice chairman Enda Nicholls and the special guest drawing the tickets was former Ballyraine FC player and current Finn Harps player Gareth Harkin. Gareth will be playing with Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps in the Premier division of the League of Ireland next season. A popular guest with the young footballers in attendance.
Also, in attendance and the man to draw the first ticket was Ballyraine FC club founder and a legend within schoolboy soccer circles Andy O’Boyle. Andy thanked the attending crowd and said he was delighted to see how the current young energetic committee was progressing the club.
Andy O’Boyle founded the club in the 1970s and, as Club Vice-Chairman Enda Nicholls stated “it is a testament to men like Andy and Charlie the we are still here today”.
Enda Nicholls also thanked the Letterkenny and district league and the league Chairman Gerry Gallagher for their support of the club.
Winners on the night were as follows:
- €1000 – Ticket 701 – Keith Redmond, Malahide (seller Dara Reynolds)
- All Ireland Tickets – 1881 – Conal Hegarty (seller Conal Hegarty – BFC player U9)
- Signed Rep I shirt – 1114 – Eileen Callaghan (seller James Callaghan)
- 2 nights B&B Benedict’s Hotel- 2933 – Rosie Bonner
- 500 litres Oil – 509 – Niall Callaghan XL – (seller Kieran Barron)
- €100 voucher Evolve – Barney McNulty (seller Odhran Conors – BFC player U9)
- €1000 – Frank Beatty (seller James Sweeney)
- Celtic top – Jake Grimes (seller Oran)
- €100 Bizz Print Voucher – Eoghan Scott (seller Enda Nicholls)
- €100 A7 voucher – Chris Rutherford (seller Nina Singaroyan)
Club secretary Charlie Shiels rounded off the night by wishing all the coaches, parents, guests, players and their families a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
