ST Oliver Plunkett FC was founded in Lenadoon, west Belfast in 1969. Back then the fledgling side – which celebrates its 50th anniversary with a gala ball at Belfast City Hall in September - operated out of the St Oliver Plunkett Youth Club.
Nowadays it runs 48 teams from U8 to adult level including 42 boys’ sides and six for girls, including a ladies’ team.
The club, which has produced internationals Mal Donaghy, Paul McVeigh, Anton Rogan, Fr Phil Mulryne, Jim Magilton, Paul Williams and a host of Irish League stars, was a Uefa Gold Award winner in 2017. It now operates seven days-a-week with 90 coaches giving up their time to bring through a steady stream of eager youngsters.
Renowned Belfast football man Jackie Maxwell became synonymous with the club he joined in 1971 and was instrumental in its progress from humble beginnings. The St Oliver Plunkett youth club closed in 1982 but Maxwell, who passed away suddenly in 2012, was determined to keep the football teams going.
“It was almost a one-man band back then,” club chairman Marty McLaughlin explained.
“When the doors of the youth club closed the football club no longer had a home and it could have been the end of things but Jackie was the man who kept it going.
“Jackie’s home was the centre of what was going on and all our meetings were in his living room.”
Those were the dark days of the Troubles and the club played a vital role in providing a recreational outlet for young people in west Belfast.
“Things were really bad then and when the youth club closed it left a gap in terms of activities to keep kids off the streets and keep their minds on doing things that were a bit more constructive,” Marty explained.
“The Troubles did have an impact but Jackie kept us focussed on the football, it had a great impact on giving the kids in the area something to do and it was always very positive. Jackie was one of those guys who was inspirational and the driving force behind everything that happened.”
Maxwell, who was presented with a BBC Unsung Hero award in 2006, was involved with the club right up until his death in 2012, aged 76. Plunkett’s had enjoyed its best-ever year, winning three finals.
Since then McLaughlin, who took over from Maxwell as chairman after serving 25 years as secretary, has been at the helm of the ever-expanding outfit. This season the senior side were Amateur League Division 2A winners and Plunkett’s hope to get the green light to become an intermediate league club in the near future.
Meanwhile, the club’s U18 side play Linfield Rangers in tonight’s Harry Cavan Cup final while the U11 and U12 sides are also chasing silverware.
“We do a lot of programmes for suicide awareness and substance abuse,” explained McLaughlin.
“We do a lot of cross-community work too and most of our coaches have come through the club and they know the ethos – it’s all about the kids, it’s about them playing football and us making sure we’re doing our best for them.”
St Oliver Plunkett FC graduates:
Mal Donaghy
A LATE starter in football, Donaghy progressed from Plunkett’s to Larne before moving on to Luton Town. After a decade there he made the switch to Manchester United and won a European Cup Winners Cup medal in 1991. Donaghy won 91 caps for the North and played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Anton Rogan
BORN in Lenadoon, Rogan was signed from Distillery by Celtic manager Davey Hay and went on to become a fixture at left-back in the double-winning 1988 Centenary team managed by Billy McNeill.
Transferred to Sunderland in 1991 and played in the 1992 FA Cup Final. He also had spells at Oxford United, Millwall and Blackpool and won 18 caps for Northern Ireland.
Fr Phil Mulryne
SPOTTED by scouts at the Milk Cup and chose to sign for boyhood favourites Manchester United. Won the 1994/95 FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford but could not nail down a place in the first team and left for Norwich City aged 20. A skilful playmaker and dead-ball specialist, he became a fixture in midfield and won the Championship with the Carrow Road side. Later had a spell with Cardiff City and made 27 appearances for Northern Ireland, scoring three goals.
Jim Magilton
NOW the club president, midfielder Magilton was another product of coach Jackie Maxwell at St Oliver Plunkett. Came through the ranks at Liverpool and went on to play almost 600 games in a professional footballer career that included spells at Oxford United, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town. Won 52 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring five times.
Went on to become Ipswich manager and has also been the gaffer at QPR and with the Northern Ireland U21 side.
Harry Cavan Youth Cup final: St Oliver Plunkett FC v Linfield Rangers (tonight, Windsor Park, 7.30pm)
WITH 10 minutes of their semi-final against Portadown to go, Plunkett's trailed 4-2.
The seconds ticked away but the West Belfast youngsters never lost faith and a grandstand finish, inspired by Calvin McCurry and Conor McGook, saw them to a famous 5-4 win in extra-time. Mickey Donnelly’s neversaydie outfit now face Linfield Rangers in tonight’s final.
Plunkett's have made the final twice before but lost out on both occasions. They go into tonight’s decider having wrapped up their league title and booked a place in Friday’s league cup final too.
“It’s a big occasion for the club,” said Donnelly.
“We’re in the National League so it is a big ask for us even to get to the final and we’re looking forward to it. They are a great bunch, I came in three years ago and the progression of the kids and their attitude has been brilliant.”
Donnelly’s side have scored 20 goals in four games so far but could have their work cut out to breach a Linfield defence that has conceded just once on their way to tonight’s final.
“If I’m being honest, it’s a big ask for us,” says Cliftonville legend Donnelly, the Reds’ skipper in their 1998/98 league-winning season.
“What we have got over them is a togetherness and a team spirit. There are no ‘preMaradonas’ in our team, we win together and we lose together. It’s a big ask for us but it’s something that we’re capable of doing.
“They don’t know when they’re beat, that’s why I like being involved with them. They’re never beat until the final whistle goes, they will keep going.”
Paths to the final
First round: St Oliver Plunkett 4 Annagh United Youth 0; Maiden City Academy 1 Linfield Rangers 4
Second round: St Oliver Plunkett 5 Enniskillen Athletic U18 1; Cliftonville Strollers 0 Linfield Rangers 2
Quarter-final: Oxford United Stars 2 St Oliver Plunkett 6; Warrenpoint Town U18 0 Linfield Rangers 3
Semi-final: Portadown III 4 St Oliver Plunkett 5; Coleraine U18 0 Linfield Rangers 1
