Robinstown FC are a model for small rural clubs to be successful

On Sunday morning of last week Robinstown FC hosted Albion Rovers in a North East Football League Div 1 encounter. The Robins lost 2-4, a result that highlights how they have found it difficult to chalk up victories in the league so far this season, with their place in the lower half of the table a further indication of that.

Still, there’s a long way to go in the 2026 season and who knows what the rest of the campaign holds in store. Last year they finished fourth and while that lofty position is likely to prove beyond them this time around who knows what the second-half of the campaign holds for them. Fortunes can change quickly.

After all, battling against the odds is something Robinstown have become accustomed to over the years – yet few clubs have shown a more determined attitude when it comes to bettering themselves and moving up in the world.

Take their success in acquiring ownership of their own ground. Located between Navan and Trim, Robinstown FC are a perfect example of how a rural club can, through application and some shrewd decision making, become guardians of their own destiny. They had rented the almost nine-acre site for years, but a year ago they purchased the venue for just over €200,000. The piece of land, a lovely rural location, currently contains two pitches, but there’s loads of potential for development.

Some years ago the decision was taken by some visionary people in the club to start putting some money aside for the ultimate purpose of buying the venue. It might have seemed at the time a far-off ambition, but gradually it moved closer to reality. Various fund raising projects were embarked on the most successful a ‘Buy a Sod’ initiative that proved very successful with chairman Eamonn Curley overseeing the project with others helping out.

And that’s the secret – if it could be called a secret - of what Robinstown have achieved. The club is powered by a little core of volunteers who are dedicated to doing what they can to help the cause.

Take Damien Sheirdan for instance. He has been involved with football teams all his life in the Robinstown area – including previous iterations Shambo and Botown - and for the past 13 years he has served as manager of the first team, something he says, he simply couldn’t do but for the help of others.

Back in 2023 he led the team to success in the Leinster Junior Cup, the club’s first trophy in 30 years and arguably its greatest day. Others who were involved in that notable triumph, and who have played for the club for many years now, are Paul Garry and Paul Curtin, seasoned campaigns and great club stalwarts, who are still turning out for the Robins, still pulling on that red jersey.

Another indication of how Robinstown are translating ambition and vision into a reality on the ground is the way they are expanding the number of teams they are fielding. “This year for the first time in a long, long time we have three senior teams,” explains Sheridan. “That was a big call by us but we felt it would give more lads an opportunity to play football, keep lads involved by playing.”

He says that for a relatively small rural club like Robinstown putting out a third team is a “big thing” – for all sorts of reasons. “It’s not just a case of throwing a football out there and saying, ‘there you go lads.’ There’s the extra gear needed, the insurance, the affiliation to the league, having extra footballs. A good match ball costs €60 or €70 at least, all that has to be taken into account. Not too many clubs have a third team.”

For the first time this year Robinstown are also fielding a women’s side. “There was a ladies team in the area in the past but it went under the name of Shambo or Botown.” There are also various underage teams fielded by Robinstown.Sheridan is a fan of summer soccer and feels the NEFL is well run under the stewardship of secretary Justin Burke but he would like to see a change in the way fixtures are made. He would prefer to see fixtures laid out on a monthly rather than weekly basis to allow for players and mentors to plan ahead better, although he has sympathy too for any fixtures secretary in trying to keep everyone happy.

Football, he knows, is about change, constantly moving on. Improving.