Rosario football club, based on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast, has chosen the first female chair in Northern Ireland amateur football to lead their board.
Ciara Boyes was elected at their recent AGM and is tasked with leading the club through a time of tremendous change, as they redevelop their home ground and celebrate the 50 years which have made them one of the largest clubs in the north.
Mrs Boyes, who has a background in business development, is hoping to use her experience to grow the club further and oversee the redevelopment of their Ulidia base into one of the premier grounds in amateur football.
She was delighted that her name had been put forward for the position and is passionate about the club and the benefit it has to over 700 members.
“My children have been playing for the club for three years and when I put up my hand to help out little did I know I would end up here,” she said.
“It is a fantastic club, run solely by volunteers who give up their time so freely.
“There are committee members, coaches, referees, tea makers , kit washers and unpaid taxi drivers and each one of them is essential to the success the club has had and the success to come.
“This club is an important part of this community. It also has a fantastic history.
“Our home pitch Uilidia hosted one of the first international matches ever, over 130 years ago.
“The current Ireland manager Martin O’Neill played for the club at U16 level and like many of our sides he won a title.
“The priority now is to build on this history and the success of recent times.
“The club is working hard to organise celebrations for the club’s 50th anniversary, we are also driving the re-development of the club’s Ulidia headquarters.”
Rosario has over 700 playing members ranging from mini-soccer right up to adult teams which play in the South Belfast League.
There are over 400 members between the ages of 6 and 11 playing in the mini soccer league, with girls’ teams growing steadily in the under 11, 13, and 15 age groups.
