Who are we?
Killymoon Rangers FC was established in 1971 to provide footballing opportunities for the people in Cookstown. Now over 50 years old, we are the oldest football club in the town by a considerable distance. Over the last 52 years, the club has worked tirelessly to continue to offer high quality and accessible sporting and leisure opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds in the local area. It is our aim to advance the health and well-being in our community through sporting activity, helping to increase the levels of physical activity while also bringing people together socially.
We currently have 2 male senior teams, a 1st XI and our reserves team, with over 40 players between the two squads. Our 1st XI currently play in the Ballymena and Provincial Football League. We currently play our matches at Mid Ulster Sports Arena and Beechway playing fields in the heart of Cookstown.
We operate to provide unique, high-quality opportunities to local residents, all with the aim to enhancing their health and well-being. This includes assisting them in enhancing their physical health, through increased sporting and physical activity, as well as their mental well-being, providing them with a regular social outlet, where they can engage and interact with a wide array of people. Our participants come from a range of different backgrounds, and we use the common love of sport to break down communication barriers, helping to foster new relationships. All of this is done to enhance the cohesion and togetherness in the local community of Cookstown.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are crowdfunding with the intention of raising participation levels for young males in Cookstown and the surrounding areas. With raised participation will derive an increase in physical, mental and social wellbeing for all involved. We are directly targeting deprived and rural areas ensuring they are aware of a local amenity that can hugely benefit their health and wellbeing. We have placed particularl emphasis on including participants from the areas of: Ardboe, Pomeroy Dunnamore and Stewartstown.
We aim to run a fully inclusive introductory football camp for 12 weeks from January. As mentioned, the project will aim to raise participation levels in the surrounding rural areas of Cookstown, allowing us to offer them an affordable and accessible service. We aim to have 20 participants included in the programme. This is a new project aimed at maximising participation levels in the local area, particularly rural areas surrounding Cookstown.
The local area in which we operate, including Sandholes SOA and the wider area of Cookstown is one which is highly deprived. According to NISRA statistics, the area is in the top 20% with regards to access to services deprivation. In addition, the Dunnamore SOA is the 6th worst area across Northern Ireland for access to services. This simply means a limited number of opportunities available to the community and thus it is vital we reach out to these areas to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in sport. An area that is part of our catchment area, Pomeroy, is in the top 7% for income deprivation in Northern Ireland. This highlights a need for affordable and accessible amenities that the local community can avail of.
Killymoon falls within the top 21% for health deprivation in the country. By increasing our provision to include more people, more often, we can increase physical activity levels in the local area, making people more mentally and physically healthy.
After years of playing our football in the junior division, this year we have made the step up to Intermediate football which will require a lot more time, energy and resources from the club. We have to increase our training regime and as a result this has asked more from the clubs financials.
How we’ll spend the money raised
We will utilise the money raised for the benefit of everyone involved within the club and the wider community. We aim to purchase new items of equipment, tailored at improving the quality of our training sessions, allowing us to compete at a higher level.
A few examples of what we hope to use the funding for include: football mannequins, samba nets, bibs and slalom poles, to name a few. These items of equipment will go a long way in supporting us to run our proposed introductory football programme as we make use of small sided games and drills to generate an interest in the sport, raising participation levels.
Funds will also be used to pay for the pitch hire from the Mid Ulster Council, allowing us to train and run the 12 week programme. Another aspect of the programme will incorporate a strength and conditioning coach, further improving the health and fitness of the participants.
The funds raised form this initiative will go a long way in helping us to improve as a club and therefore our impact on the local community.
Community impact
We offer young men from the local community and further afield the opportunity to become involved in footballing activities, which can be hugely beneficial to an individual's physical, mental and social health. Football is a great service through which they can develop new, transferrable, skills such as communication, leadership and teamwork.
With an increased level of participation, with players drawn from more rural areas, we aim to integrate people from different backgrounds, ensuring that everyone is welcome to engage in organised football activities, regardless of their background, age, beliefs or ability.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!