Why Soccer

Has to blamed on the summer on 1978. Best remembered for the World Cup in Argentina. This was different to previous World Cup`s as it was televised widely across the globe. Thanks to a `magic window ` in the corner of most Irish homes, one was within shouting distance as events unfolded, half way across the world in Argentina. Local school kids were singing the praises of players with names, that just rolled off the tongue with ease, such as Albeto Tarantina, Mario Kempas, Osvaldo Ardiles and Daniel Passarella, and they were just the Argentine`s and many a kid`s dream - of scoring a goal just like `Kempas `. When every neutral`s favourite team - Brazil - bowed out in the second round, one`s loyalty turned to support Holland who had lost the previous final to West Germany.

The final itself was between Holland who played `total football` against the tournament hosts who`s game plan was just to outscore any opposition as the fielded four forwards. On the day itself, Mario Kempas was outstanding, putting the host`s in front but only in the second half, did the Dutch came to life when Dick Nanninga equalised with a header. And when Rob Rensenbrink hit the post in the dying moments – one English commentator asserted that if that shot had found the net and Holland had won, there would have been a revolution in Argentina. In extra time Mario Kempas and Daniel Bertoni netted to secure a home win in a fascinating final. Anyway Argentina won, so `no revolution` but some 11,000 kilometres away, there was a uprising of sorts in our own neck of the woods as within one year of the finals, three soccer clubs formed, all within a seven km. radius of Rathvilly. Parkville United formed in Tullow straight away in 1978 and Hack United (Hacketstown) along with Slaney Rovers in 1979.

On the Rathvilly home front, the only outlet for the kids to copy their heroes was a kick about on the local village green behind the pump, with the usual rolled up jumpers as goals. On seeing the interest in this new `religion` a certain Martin `Cash` Keogh was the first to ask that question - why not start a soccer team in Rathvilly. On pondering this notion, and knowing that nobody had a clue where to start - as soccer was a new concept to the area, with any previous team sport, been the `handling code ` Christie Donoghue knew of a new arrival in Rathvilly who was rumoured to have played soccer in the Wicklow League. After a few yards of a walk and a tap on a door, a biggish man with a reddish beard listened to their problem. They hit the jackpot as Noel `Big Al` Ryan had played soccer with his home town Arklow Town and even played Premier Division in his younger days. `Big Al`s suggested that – the only way to gauge what interest they was for soccer in Rathvilly, was to collect names of whoever was interested and collect so much a week to buy a set of jerseys.

The final piece of the jigsaw fell into place when Michael Kehoe came on board and he opened up the first of his famous black recording books, signed up a bunch of players, collected 50 pence per player per week. This was pre Celtic Tiger days, even pre - decimalisation days when 50 pence was 50 pence). Within eight weeks Michael had collected a panel of interested players, the price of a set of jerseys and a football. Only two problems remained - a home pitch - which was solved when Maire and PJ. Dunne offered a field in Rathmore, which was the clubs home for the early years, and - transport was provided by Noel Curry, which would transport the Slaney Rovers, the length and breath of Wicklow for many years – the rest as they say is history!