The 2024 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division and the SSE Airtricty Women’s Premier Division fixtures have been released.
Our Senior Men’s will take on Wexford FC on the opening day of the season on Friday, February 16th at Athlone Town Stadium with a 7.45pm kick-off. The first Midlands ‘El Clasico’ will take place on Friday, March 22nd at Athlone Town Stadium, kicking off at 7.45pm.
Our Senior Women’s game will start their season in the President’s Cup against Peamount United. Fixture details TBC. Their opening league game will take place at Athlone Town Stadium against Galway United with a 7.30 kick-off time.
The draw for the PTSB Leinster Senior Cup has taken place. There will be four groups of four teams in the new layout for the competition. We have been drawn into Group B along with Maynooth University Town, Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, with the group winner earning a home quarter-final.
Group B Fixtures:
Maynooth University Town v Athlone Town
Monday, January 22nd, KO: 7.45pm
Athlone Town v Longford Town
Monday, January 29th, KO: 7.45pm
Athlone Town v Shamrock Rovers
Monday, February 5th, KO: 7.45pm
Dates are subject to change and venues are to be confirmed.
Athlone Town AFC have announced a start date for the Player Development course. The Local Training Initiative in association with the LWETB is due to start on the 2nd October with applications now open through the FETCH Courses Website.
The Player Development courses offers participants the opportunity to experience a full time progessional caoching environment while continuing with their education. There are several progression routes for learners, with learners progressing to third level education, vocational training, footballing scholarships in America and full-time professional football in both Ireland and abroad.
Football player development is a major feature on these long running courses, which have seen more that 100 trainees progressing to the SSE Airtricity League in recent seasons with graduates, including Katie McCabe, Matt Doherty, Enda Stephens, Alan Browne and Daryl Horgan, who have carved out full time professional careers in the UK after attending similar Local Training Initiatives around the country.
As part of the academic side of the programme learners will complete a QQI Level 5 in Sport& Recreation Studies plus an ITEC Gym Instructors Diploma and FAI Coaching Certificates.
The CAO points accumulated on this programme (up to 395 points) has allowed numerous learners to progress to Third Level Institutions in Ireland and the UK. Graduates from the FAI/ETB programme have continued to add to their educational development in a variety of degree courses delivered in Universities across the country where sports themed degree courses are very popuylar choices.
Students accepted onto the programme would be entitled to a training allowance (if elligible) through the Department of Social Protection, details of can be found here.
For more information about the course you can view the details on FETCH Courses Website or contact the Course Coordinator, Emmett Egan, at emmett@athlonetownafc.ie.
Athlone Town AFC emerged as the champions of the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup in a thrilling and unpredictable final at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening.
In a captivating cup final that concluded 2-2 after extra time, Athlone sealed their historic victory in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Dana Scheriff, Chloe Singleton (named Player of the Match), Kayleigh Shine, and Jesi Rossman all successfully converted their penalties, securing a 4-3 shootout win.
The Town started strongly and dominated the first half, deservedly entering halftime with a lead thanks to Scheriff’s goal. The American capitalized on a rebound off the post from Singleton’s cross, to give us the lead half an hour in to the game.
Shelbourne presented a tougher challenge in the second half, gradually gaining momentum. Jemma Quinn, a substitute, leveled the game in the 74th minute by sweeping home a rebound after Athlone keeper Katie Keane had parried a Kerri Letmon cross.
As the match extended into extra time, Shelbourne seemed poised for consecutive cup victories, with Quinn putting them ahead with a superb finish from the edge of the box, assisted by Pearl Slattery.
Undeterred, Athlone fought back and secured a dramatic equalizer when substitute Gillan Keenan found the back of the net at the back post from a right-wing cross in the dying minutes.
The subsequent penalty shootout sealed Athlone’s destiny, as Kavanagh’s missed penalty marked the end of The Town’s 99 year long wait for FAI Cup glory.
