The launch of a new season normally involves the gathering of a few trophies, a clever photograph to capture the back or even the front pages (if such a phrase still has currency in our digital world) and nice comments about potential, excitement and hopes for a big year.
It’s a benefit that sport has defined calendar events and that each year brings these set piece opportunities but every now and again something a little different can shake things up.
Tomorrow at the National Sports Campus the FAI Continental Tyres Women’s National League launch will be an all day affair bringing value to the players and the teams as well as opportunities for media to get more access and more in depth storytelling than is regularly the case.
“Our key objective has been to ensure that the day will be interactive, competitive, engaging and educational for the players, officials and media that will be making the season a success,” said a Continental spokesman last night.
Continental luxury buses will collect 14 representatives from each of the eight clubs in the League early on Saturday morning and bring them safely to the Campus for a healthy breakfast.
They will include six key players, coaches, video analysts, PRO’s and other backroom personnel.
There will be a performance workshop for the coaches with FAI Head of Performance Ruud Dokter, and a marketing workshop looking at case studies from clubs outside Ireland with the FAI communications team.
The media launch featuring a panel discussion including Sue Ronan, Aine O’Gorman and Ruud Dokter will be followed up by a challenge match on the new FAI pitches at the Campus between a Continental Tyres WNL side and a special FAI selection.
“We’re looking forward to working even more closely with clubs and players this season as we strengthen our support for women’s football in Ireland,” added the spokesman.
“We’re going to visit those communities where our eight clubs are located to help put the spotlight on women’s football.”
“Our football festival roadshows – which almost 50 of our Women’s National League players will test out at our launch – will get people in local communities out on the pitch, learning about the game and having fun in the process.”
It’s a big statement about the commitment of the sponsors and the FAI to the Women’s game and one that is to be warmly applauded.
The FAI and Continental Tyres will both be attending the Sport for Business Round Table event on Thursday, August 27th looking at the possibility of creating A Women’s Sports Week for Ireland in 2016.
