At the launch of the Aviva Club of the Year were Irish Internationals Stephen Ward and David Meyler with David Connolly and Jake Mallon from Midleton FC in Cork, the winner of the 2012 Aviva Club of the Year.

Soccer clubs encouraged to enter Aviva competition

Published: Fri 19 Oct 2012, 9:30 AM

Last updated: Fri 19 Oct 2012, 7:19 PM

Meath's football clubs are being encouraged to get involved and put themselves forward for the Aviva Club of the Month competition launched in Dublin by Irish internationals David Meyler and Stephen Ward. Dunboyne AFC won the Aviva Club of the Year in 2009, while Parkvilla FC (February 2010) and Ratoath FC (November 2010) have both received monthly honours. The Aviva Club of the Year Awards has fast become the benchmark on how clubs are performing up and down the country. The prestigious awards are run from October through to May with a different club selected every month as the Aviva Club of the Month, receiving €1,500 to assist in their overall development. Each of the monthly winners then go forward as finalists to the Club of the Year which is chosen at the FAI Festival of Football and AGM. The clubs will then have a final opportunity to submit presentations about their clubs to the Judging Panel before the winner of the Club of the Year is announced and a cheque of €5,000 presented. The Judging Panel for the award, which is headed up by Donal Conway, chairman of the FAI Underage Committee, and includes representatives from FAI Club Development, Dublin City Council and Aviva, select the winners based on six different criteria including administration, coaching, participation numbers, performance and contribution to the community. More information about the Aviva Club of the Month awards and details on how to submit an entry are available of www.FAI.ie and www.Aviva.ie/localsports