The Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association was launched yesterday at the FAI offices on the Sport Ireland Campus by its chairperson Harry McCue.
The Association was founded in at the end of last year as a response to the growing need for a coherent response within Irish football to tackle a wide range of challenges encountered by players in this country.
There are existing similar organisations for Rugby players, Gaelic Games players and Jockeys as well as internationally across a range of sports. It is a welcome addition to the sporting landscape here for former footballers.
The urgency to address this issue in the sport has been highlighted over the past two years by the serious health problems suffered by three-times capped Ireland senior international defender James ‘Jacko’ McDonagh who enjoyed a stellar career with Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, Nimes in France and Derry City.
Within weeks of Jacko undergoing hospital care for the effects of a stroke and other medical issues in May, 2022, family, friends, former teammates at Shamrock Rovers, former opponents and the wider Irish football community rallied to his cause.
To date, a substantial five figure amount has been raised through a series of initiatives by countless people and groups which has been crucial in providing the 61 year old with long term residential care.
“When we learned of the terrible news about Jacko McDonagh’s illness, a group of his former teammates and players from other clubs quickly mobilised to support him and his family,” said Harry McCue, IPFBA chairperson.
“The heartfelt response from hundreds of people within football and from the wider public allowed the establishment of a financial fund to help Jacko in dealing with his day to day life. As a result of this initiative, ex-League of Ireland players decided to expand this initial work by creating our new organisation, the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association.”
“We know that there is a well of support for our aims and we have already received donations of more than €8,000 from the annual awards’ dinners of PFA Ireland and Soccer Writers Ireland and the guests at Charlie O’Leary’s 100th birthday party for which we are most grateful.”
“Now it’s time to push on and extend the hand of assistance. Our motto reads ‘Reaching Out’ and we are ready to do this to both men and women who have played the game in this country.”
“We will organise a golf classic later in the year and we will continue to require the help from every strand of Irish football to support our forthcoming fund raising events. Already, we have received the welcome and valuable backing of the FAI and PFAI Ireland.”
Stephen McGuinness, general secretary of PFA Ireland has given his organisation’s full backing to the newly-formed group.
“The Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association is a great addition to support players who have finished their professional football careers,” he said.
“We have been involved from the outset to help with the establishment of the organisation and will continue to provide our expertise and support as it develops into the future. We trust that the organisation will be a great support for former players in their time of need.”
FAI President Paul Cooke has offered the association’s full support to the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association.
“It is important that former professional players are supported when facing challenges,” he added.
“At the FAI we welcome the launch of the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association and are here to support them in in their work.”
Harry McCue’s central role in the IPFBA continues his family’s tradition of being at the forefront of player welfare issues with his father, Harry senior, a founding member of the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) in 1961.
Pat Fenlon and Áine O’Gorman are among those on the founding Committee.
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