CORDUFF FC has launched a campaign in a range of languages aimed at increasing the impressive range of nationalities already involved with the Dublin football club.
Club spokesperson John McGuinness told Metro Eireann that the Corduff estate in Blanchardstown was becoming extremely diverse.
“Blanchardstown, and in particular Corduff parish, is not only a stereotypical working-class estate but it’s also a hot bed for multiculturalism,” he said.
Referring to the range of ethnic minorities in the area, he commented: “We have a strong African contingent, a reasonable Travelling community who are now settled, Eastern Europeans are common and the oriental community is very predominant in terms of working here and setting up in business.”
McGuinness believes that football is the perfect way to help the region’s new communities integrate: “Soccer is universal throughout the world. It’s a great leveller as everyone is treated the same regardless.
“I feel [that] in 15 years or so, this country and this city will benefit generally, and in sport, when these young boys and girls grow up and start representing this country in various ways.”
Club organisers are hoping that other local sporting organisations follow their lead. “I think it’s very important that clubs and groups should follow our example and actively approach and attract members of other communities and even make an effort in terms of using multiple languages as opposed to simply existing as they always have,” said McGuinness.
Already, around a quarter of the Blanchardstown club’s players are from minority backgrounds. McGuinness points out: “That [25 per cent] covers many who are in the nursery for four, five and six-year-olds [and] a sizeable proportion from under-7 to under-12 and even at senior level, where we boast three Slovakians.”
Corduff are unlike other sporting organisations in that many of the charges (which are usually payable in other clubs) are absorbed, making it practically free for players to line out.
“We subsidise everything,” said McGuinness. “We don’t charge insurance fees, joining fees or anything of that nature. Many clubs do and this is a barrier to these communities and to a lot of Irish people too. It’s our primary goal to offer football as a community club and not as a commercial one.”
However, the club has to rely on donations from people living in the area and McGuinness is hopeful that they will continue to come in.
“I would as always appeal to business people, self-employed people, foreign people and Irish people to come out and support this club in terms of sponsorship and donations to allow us to continue our hard work.”
