COMBER Rec Football Club has been presented with the Irish Football Association’s People and Clubs Accreditation.
The Irish FA’s club development manager, Gareth Allen, was joined by political representatives in presenting the accolade to the Park Way club last Thursday evening (February 12).
A message of congratulations was played from the Irish FA president Conrad Kirkwood, who was unable to attend in person due to his attendance at the UEFA Congress and draw for the UEFA Nations League group stages in Brussels.
The People and Clubs Accreditation aims to recognise and reward individuals and clubs who go above and beyond by providing their members with great experiences, have a developmental and inclusive environment, follow safeguarding guidelines and link in with the local community.
Comber Rec chairman Gary McKibbin thanked former club chairman David Brown and club development officer Steven Crooks for their time and dedication in helping the club to achieve the award, while Gareth Allen from the IFA congratulated Comber Rec and said the accreditation demonstrated that all the necessary policies were in place and that all areas of the club’s governance had been reviewed thoroughly. He also wished the club well in their future development plans.
The evening also saw former Irish League manager Matthew Tipton, a member of the local Mentribe group, deliver a brief overview of the group’s work in helping with men’s mental and physical health through their weekly and monthly walks that leave from the club every Monday evening, with a longer walk once a month on Sundays.
The club then invited architect Stephen Salley from HBK Architects to present the club’s ambitious plans for the future development of the new clubhouse and explained the work that has gone on to date with the new boundary wall and beer garden.
Mr Salley also explained that following the installation of a new two-bay electric vehicle (EV) charging point, Comber Rec have become the first club in Northern Ireland to provide EV charging points for public use.
