Touchline Talk from Rathfriland Football Club

RANGERS FIXTURES- Saturday February 18 – Home to Newington YC in Clarence Cup. Kick off 1.30pm.

SWIFTS FIXTURES- Friday Febrary 17 – Away to Banbridge Town Reserves in league. Kick off 8pm.

SWIFTS RESERVES FIXTURES - Saturday February 18 –Away to Rectory Rangers Reserves in league. Kick off 2.15pm.

COLTS FIXTURES - Saturday February 18 –Away to Valley Rangers in league. Kick off 2pm. RANGERS HOME TO NEWINGTON YC IN CUP - Rathfriland Rangers this Saturday will host Premier League team Newington YC in the Clarence Cup at Iveagh Park sponsored by John McClimonds. Rangers have had two great league wins on the bounce and will be looking to continue that on in the cup this Saturday. Newington are the Amateur league`s cup specialists and probably one of the most successful intermediate football clubs. This one has an early kick off at 1.30pm.

SWIFTS IN FRIDAY NIGHT DERBY - Rathfriland Swifts this weekend will travel to Banbridge Town Reserves in a league fixture at Cheney Park on Friday evening with an 8pm kick off. The Swifts had a brilliant win against Armagh City last weekend and will be hoping to continue that with another three points on the synthetic surface at Cheney. This one has an 8pm kick off.

SWIFTS RESERVES AWAY TO RECTORY RANGERS RESERVES - Rathfriland Swifts Reserves this Saturday will travel to Rectory Rangers Reserves in a league fixture. Rectory are below Rathfriland in the league but the travelling Rathfriland team will be looking to clinch the points. This one will be played at Lurgan Park with a kick off at 2.15pm.

COLTS AWAY TO VALLEY - This Saturday Rathfriland Colts are away to Valley Rangers in league action. With it being three weeks since the Colts have had a game they will be looking to get back on track. Kick off 2pm.

TRAINING - Training continues to take place at Cheney Park, Banbridge on a Monday night from 8-10pm and on a Thursday night from 9 – 10pm. Charge is £2 per session or £5 for 2 x training sessions plus matchday subs. CONGRATULATIONS! - Congratulations to Rathfriland Swifts player Alan Murray and his wife on the birth of their baby daughter on Friday past.

BINGO and MR & MRS - A big thank-you to all who attended and supported the Bingo and “Mr & Mrs” night at Rathfriland FC on Saturday evening. A large crowd was in attendance and in competition for the “Mr & Mrs” were Ryan Monaghan and his wife Roisin, Connell Jackson and his wife Jayne, “Mr Forgetful” Mervyn Groves and his wife Jennifer and also Chairman Junior Murray and his wife Barbara. In the end Connell and Jayne ran out winners after two competitive round but a big thankyou to all contestants who took part. Thanks to Chub and Wilto for organising the evening, to Chub for comparing both the Bingo and the “Mr & Mrs”, to those club members on club duty, to all who provided sandwiches for the break and to those who donated prizes as well and to Christopher McCabe for heading up the music afterwards.

MATCHDAY SPONSOR - Matchday sponsor this Saturday is club member John McClimonds. John attended the inaugural committee of the club 50 years ago and has been a life long member of the club. John has sponsored the club a number of times before and this latest sponsorship is equally much appreciated.

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS - Rathfriland FC will hold their 50th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday 23rd June at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle. This will be a black tie event with comedian Gene Fitzpatrick and live music by Track of the Foot part of the bill. Tickets are priced at £40 – all players, officials, sponsors and supporters past and present will be very welcome. More details to follow.

COMMITTEE MEETING - The next Rathfriland FC committee meeting will take place on Tuesday February 21 at 7.30pm. SPONSORS - Our thanks to all our sponsors who have been such great support to Rathfriland FC.

Main club sponsor – Milestone Service Station; Rangers kit sponsor – Milestone Service Station; Swifts kit sponsor – DN Tyres; Numerous board sponsors at Iveagh Park. SENTRY DUTY - N/A

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY –Saturday June 23 – 50TH anniversary, Slieve Donard Hotel.