New Beginnings at Swifts

Aim

New Beginnings at Swifts removes barriers to football by creating additional pathways for boys/girls, older men and volunteers in Co. Armagh

Who are we?

Markethill Swifts Football Club is a long-established, community-run football club based in rural County Armagh. Founded in 1989, we are proud to be at the heart of our local community, providing inclusive and affordable football opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

What started over 10 years ago with just two teams and around 30 players has grown into a thriving club with 17 teams, including three senior teams, 14 junior teams and an ambition to create a new Over-35s men’s side. Today, we support around 250 registered players, made possible by the commitment of over 60 volunteers.

We primarily operate from the Kilcluney 3G pitch just outside Markethill and Ashgrove Park in Markethill is the clubs home base secured on a long term lease from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, serving families from across surrounding rural areas where access to sport can be limited by transport, cost and opportunity. As a volunteer-led club, we work hard to keep participation affordable, particularly for young people and families facing financial pressures.

At Markethill Swifts, football is about more than the game. We aim to create a safe, welcoming and positive environment that supports physical and mental wellbeing, builds confidence, and brings people together from different backgrounds. Our focus is on growing new participation opportunities, recruiting, retaining and developing volunteers while ensuring that everyone - whether player, coach or supporter – feels they belong.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are crowdfunding to deliver “NEW BEGINNINGS AT SWIFTS”, a new and additional participation project designed to remove barriers to football for people who are traditionally under-represented in sport in rural County Armagh.

While Markethill Swifts FC delivers regular football activity on a day-to-day basis, this project focuses on new opportunities that would not take place without this funding. Rising costs for facilities, equipment and coach education mean that many people in our community face financial, confidence and access barriers to participation and volunteering.

This project will allow us to:

• CREATE NEW ENTRY POINTS FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE through taster sessions that will lead to the formation of new youth and girls’ teams, rather than supporting existing squads.
• LAUNCH A STRUCTURED OVER-35S MEN’S HEALTH FOOTBALL PROGRAMME, aimed at men who are currently inactive or have dropped out of sport, focusing on physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connection.
• INTRODUCE POSITION-SPECIFIC GOALKEEPER COACHING FOR THE FIRST TIME, supporting young players who may otherwise disengage due to a lack of tailored development opportunities.
• DEVELOP NEW VOLUNTEER COACHES, particularly parents, women and young adults, by removing the financial barrier to gaining recognised coaching qualifications and enabling them to take on active leadership roles within the club.
• PROVIDE NEW EQUIPMENT AND KIT DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROJECT DELIVERY, ensuring new teams and participants can take part safely and confidently.

As a rural, volunteer-led club, we work hard to keep football affordable, but without external support these new initiatives would not be possible. Crowdfunding allows our local community to invest directly in a project that benefits them, while match-funding from Sport NI will enable us to maximise impact and ensure the project is accessible to those who need it most.

By supporting “New Beginnings at Swifts”, we are LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD – not only by increasing participation, but by creating new pathways into coaching, volunteering and lifelong involvement in sport for people who have traditionally been excluded.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Every pound raised through this campaign will be spent on delivering “New Beginnings at Swifts” – a new and additional project creating inclusive football opportunities for under-represented groups in rural County Armagh. Funding will be used exclusively for project-specific costs and not for our normal day-to-day club activity.

Our project budget breakdown (any delivery after 31st March 2026 will be covered by our crowdfunding):

Volunteer Coach Education – £2,820

We will remove financial barriers for new volunteers to gain recognised coaching qualifications, enabling them to deliver new sessions and take on leadership roles within the club.

• 8 × Grassroots Courses @ £25 = £200
• 6 × National Coaching Certificates (NCC) @ £220 = £1,320
• 2 × UEFA C Licences @ £650 = £1,300

Equipment for New Teams & Programmes – £1,778.58

This equipment will be dedicated solely to new youth teams, girls’ taster sessions and the Over-35s programme.

• Footballs – 13 packs of 12 @ £94.95 = £1,234.95
• Portable Goals – 2 @ £189.99 = £379.98
• Training Bibs – 15 sets @ £10.95 = £164.25

Over-35s Programme Kit – £1,162.95

Essential kit to establish the new Over-35s men’s health football programme, helping create a sense of belonging and team identity for first-time and returning participants.

Specialist Goalkeeper Coaching – £800

A brand-new 16-week programme delivering position-specific goalkeeper coaching, something we have never previously been able to offer (any delivery after 31st March 2026 will be covered by our crowdfunding). 

• 16 sessions @ £50 per session 

Venue Hire for Over-35s Programme – £1,260

Venue hire is essential to deliver the new Over-35s programme during the winter period  (any delivery after 31st March 2026 will be covered by our crowdfunding).

• 12 weeks @ £105 per week

Total Project Cost: £7,821.53

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Without this funding, these new opportunities would not be possible. Your support will help us:

• Remove cost barriers to participation and volunteering
• Create new pathways for girls, older men and rural communities
• Deliver sustainable, inclusive football opportunities beyond this project

Every donation directly supports new people, new programmes and new opportunities at Markethill Swifts FC.

Our project will be completed by 31st March 2026. We will complete the Sport NI Spending by 31st March 2026. Any delivery after 31st March 2026 will be covered by our crowdfunding. 

Community impact

Markethill Swifts Football Club plays a vital role in the social, physical and mental wellbeing of our rural community in County Armagh. As a volunteer-led club based just outside Markethill, we provide one of the few regular, accessible sporting opportunities available locally, particularly for children, young people and adults who may otherwise face barriers to participation.

Our impact goes beyond football. The club acts as a community hub, bringing people together across generations, backgrounds and abilities. Players, parents, volunteers and supporters build strong social connections through the club, helping to reduce isolation, improve confidence and promote a sense of belonging in a rural area where opportunities to connect can be limited.

Through New Beginnings at Swifts, our community impact will grow further by:

• Re-engaging inactive adults, particularly men aged 35+, supporting both physical and mental health
• Creating new opportunities for girls and young women, helping to challenge gender inequality in sport
• Supporting young people from low-income and rural backgrounds to access affordable, positive activity
• Developing local volunteers with new skills, qualifications and leadership opportunities that benefit the wider community

Our use of the Kilcluney 3G facility and Ashgrove also supports wider community benefit by increasing access to high-quality local facilities and maximising usage outside of peak hours through new programmes.

By investing in inclusive participation and volunteer development, Markethill Swifts helps build a healthier, more connected and resilient community. The benefits of this project will be felt not only by those taking part, but by families, schools and the wider rural community we serve.

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!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made