Legendary soccer stars support IPFBA Golf Classic at Limerick Golf Course

IRISH football legends John Giles, Eoin Hand and Niall Quinn have given their backing to the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association (IPFBA) ahead of its inaugural annual Golf Classic at Limerick Golf Club on Friday, September 27.

The golf classic was launched today, Tuesday, at Limerick Golf Club by the Mayor of Limerick John Moran. 

The trio of ex-players were today announced as patrons of the recently established ex-players’ organisation established to offer assistance to former professionals, male and female, in this country who are facing health and financial challenges.

They are also supporting the important IPFBA fundraiser by donating memorabilia that will be auctioned at the dinner that follows the golf classic launched today at Limerick Golf Club.

The staging of the association’s first ever golf classic at Limerick Golf Club has been undertaken by local former League of Ireland stars Pat Nolan, Limerick's Brendan Storan and Ray O’Halloran, Micko O’Donnell, Johnny Walsh and Mike O’Brien with 41 teams competing with the aim of raising €10,000 from entry fees, event sponsor, sponsorship of greens and tees, the auction and individual donations.

Campion Insurance is the event’s main sponsor with Provincial Flooring Ltd (PFL) confirmed as an associate sponsor. Mayor of Limerick John Moran is giving his full endorsement to the event next month. 

John Giles and Eoin Hand both played for and managed the Ireland international team during a period that stretched almost three decades to 1985 while they also enjoyed sterling stints as League of Ireland bosses and players having previously carved out outstanding careers in English club football.

John signed off with 59 caps (five goals) while Eoin chalked up 20 appearances (two goals) with John leading Shamrock Rovers to the 1978 FAI Cup and player-manager Eoin famously spearheading Limerick United’s 1979-80 League of Ireland title success and the club’s capture of the Blue Riband two years later.

Niall famously played for Ireland at Euro 88 and in the 1990 and 2002 World Cup finals and scored 21 goals in 92 games for the Boys In Green between 1986 and 2002. Like his two fellow international stars, Niall also enjoyed an illustrious career in the club game in England.

Mayor John Moran said at the launch of the event: “It is great that people are coming to the Golf Classic here in Limerick from all over the country, for what is a really important cause. Players whom we have looked up to as heroes maybe the ones who now need help. I have finally got to shake the hand of Eoin Hand who was one of my heroes while I was growing up in Limerick.”

Limerick's Brendan Storan of the local organising committee stated: “On behalf of the committee, we are delighted that we are hosting the first ever Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association golf classic here at Limerick Golf Club. The support  for this fundraiser is growing by the day and we are looking forward to meeting the ex-pros from all over Ireland.

“The financial support of Campion Insurance and the Haugh family of Provincial Flooring Ltd (PFL) will make a huge difference to the funds raised from the golf classic. We are most grateful for their generous backing as we are of Tom Crosse of GVM Auctioneers for his services in running the auction,” stated Brendan.

Ian Sullivan, manager of Campion Insurance, Limerick added his congratulations on the staging of the important fund raiser.

John Giles has warmly welcomed the establishment of the IPFBA that was launched last February and is committed to offering welfare to retired stars of the game.

“Everyone involved in Irish football should give the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association their full backing - it’s an initiative that can make a real difference to the lives of ex-professionals here,” said John.

IPFBA chairperson Harry McCue and secretary Martin Lawlor attended the launch.

“The work put in by the committee here in Limerick has been phenomenal and the benefits from the golf classic in their entirety will go towards helping ex-players,” said Harry.

“Our association depends on the generosity of people within Irish football and it’s our intention that at least one of our beneficiaries will be a Limerick player when we distribute our first tranche of grants later this year.”

*** A limited number of places for teams of four (€300) are still available for the golf classic with enquiries to 087-8107155.

And 086-6097544

*** Associate sponsorships are still available as is the sponsorship of greens and tee boxes while individual donations will be gratefully accepted by the IPFBA. See the above number for details.