Presidents Welcome

President Patrick Boylan

Dear Members

It is a great honour for me to be elected President of Lansdowne Football Club for the season 2011-2012. It will be a challenging one for us at all levels and will require great effort from everyone. I am sure with your help we will continue to uphold the traditions of our great Club.

This will be our first full season in our newly refurbished clubhouse in Lansdowne Road. Though we returned during last season I am sure we will really feel the benefits of being back home this year. I would like to pay tribute to all involved on the Clubhouse Committee for the wonderful job they did in bringing the work to a successful conclusion. My predecessor Ciaran O'Reilly deserves enormous praise and thanks for his efforts.

I would like to thank our main sponsor Zurich who have been supporting us since the start of the AIL. We are delighted that they are with us again this year and look forward to continuing what is the longest association between sponsor and club in Irish rugby. I would also say a big thank you to our other sponsors... An Post, Heineken and Park Developments. They are vitally important to the club and much appreciated.

Last year proved very successful on the pitch,with our 1st XV gaining promotion to Division 1A. We are delighted to be in such company but do realise the size of the task ahead. Our 3As had a wonderful year winning the double and our Under 21s had success in Leinster, just missing out in the All-Ireland final. This augurs well for the future but a successful future requires great effort by us all. If you feel you can contribute in any way, please do so. We cannot have too many volunteers!

Lansdowne fields the 1st XV, four junior sides and two Under 21 sides each week. This could not be done without the input of a huge number of players, coaches, bagmen and supporters. To all of you may I say a big Thank You and keep up the good work. I would particularly like to mention all those involved with our thriving Minis who have 250 kids out each Sunday..... great work!

I would like to welcome Mike Ruddock to Lansdowne as our Senior Coach. Mike brings a wealth of experience at the highest level and we are delighted to have him and Emmett Farrell who joins him as Assistant Coach.The very best of luck to you both.

On a sad note Lansdowne lost three Lions last year. Moss Keane, Mick English and Barry Bresnihan all legends of the game. Moss in particular was a great friend of mine and a great team mate who dearly loved Lansdowne. For certain we shall never see his like again. They were great stalwarts and legends of the game. They will never be forgotten. May they rest in peace.

I have no doubt that the coming season will be both exciting and very tough. It will bring, as all seasons do, both highs and lows. But with the friendship and fun that we all get from what I consider the greatest of games I am sure we will enjoy it.

I look forward to meeting you during the year.

Patrick Boylan

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Patrick Boylan

President Lansdowne FC 2011 - 2012