How to join a GAA football club in Galway

Bing_IRL

Hi All,

Been out of the whole football scene for a couple of years now and looking at joining a club in Galway city.

Where do I start though? I used to play up to minors in my local club in Kerry but it's been 12 years since I've touched a ball now and need to get my fitness back before I can even think about playing a full game. Do clubs mind if someone turns up for training like that? I'd certainly play if I was asked but have no idea myself if I'd even be any use.

Any advice would be helpful.

Cheers,

Bing

cardoor

St. James' GAA have a Junior C Team. What part of the city do you live in?

Bing_IRL

I'm in Doughiska but could go anywhere in town really. You play for them?

EDIT: Just looked at the map for the Club. I'm right in the bloody middle :-)

aidan24326

You could contact a club directly or contact the Galway county board office at Pearse Stadum who should be able to give you contact info for a particular club you might want to join.

Galway County GAA Offices, Pearse Stadium, Galway Tel: 091-862500 Fax: 091-862507

There's two senior clubs in the city, Salthill/Knocknacarra and St.Michaels. Also a progressive intermediate club called St.James - they're based in Mervue. They won't be intermediate for much longer I'd say, safe bet to go senior very soon.

Anyway you could just contact someone at the club and say you're interested. They're always happy to get new players in whatever your level. The likes of James's and Salthill would have teams at junior level aswell. Salthill have teams in Junior A and Junior B. James's have teams in Junior A and Junior C.


Or you could join a junior club like Fr.Griffins/Eire Og - teams in Junior A and Junior C - they're also based in the city.

Bing_IRL

Cheers Aidan for that. I always thought the junior teams were for kids? What's the difference between the Junior A, B & C?

Itsdacraic

Bing_IRL wrote: »

Cheers Aidan for that. I always thought the junior teams were for kids? What's the difference between the Junior A, B & C?

Ability and fitness

Junior A would a higher standard than Junior B and Junior B would be higher than C but they are all adult teams.

The ranking is:

Senior
Intermediate
Junior A
Junior B
Junior C

Bing_IRL

Cool. I guess the only place to star is at the bottom . Junior C, here I come!

cardoor

St. James' would be the best bet. There are a lot of kids from Doughiska in it.
The Community Guard in Doughiska is a Selector on the Intermediate Team.
the Junior A & C Manager lives in Tur Uisce.
There are a few adult players living in other parts of Doughiska & Roscam too.
They did camps in most of the estates out there last summer.

I will PM you a contact name and number if you want.

aidan24326

Bing_IRL wrote: »

Cool. I guess the only place to star is at the bottom . Junior C, here I come!

Probably would be best if you haven't played in ages.

The ranking itsdacraic gave you is correct. There's effectively 5 grades at adult level with Junior C being the lowest.

Salthill and St.James both have teams in that grade, and for both clubs it's their third team so I'm sure they're only happy to get new lads on board. Sounds like you live in the St.James area anyway. Would definitely be an idea to do some training on your own though, a bit of running and that just to get your fitness up. Even at junior c level lads will have been training and playing for a few months now and alot of them will be reasonably fit. Not super flying fit by any means, but if your fitness has really gone to the dogs you could struggle in training when the coach orders 5 laps of the pitch as a warm-up! (he will do this after hearing that lads have been out on the beer the previous weekend )

Bing_IRL

Thanks guys. Cardoor, If you could send on those details that would be great.