Smartply Builders Providers Football Tournament A Huge Success

Last Saturday, nearly 200 players and supporters braved a wet January afternoon at the Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre in Dublin, to be part of the inaugural SmartPly Builders Providers 5-a-side Football Championship and Challenge Cup (12th January).

After 15 years of sponsorship from Guinness, in 2007 the Irish Amateur Football League (AFL) found themselves in need of a new partner, and Waterford-based SmartPly OSB responded to the call. As part of Coillte Panel Products, along with sister-company Medite, SmartPly understands the importance of the support of local communities for local business, and as part of their wider promotional campaign and the development of stronger branding, SmartPly signed a three-year contract with the AFL to encourage football at a grass-roots level as well as raising the profile and awareness of the wood-based panel products industry in Ireland.

When the idea of an industry tournament was put to the trade, SmartPly was overwhelmed by the positive response and in a very short space of time the competition was in full swing. The 16 teams for the one-day tournament were drawn from builders' providers PH Ross, McMahon's, Heiton's, TJ O'Mahoney's, Goodwin's and Clondalkin Providers, with Chadwick's, Brooks, and Noyeks fielding more than one team. The SmartPly Factory, parent company Coillte and even the AFL themselves also pulled on the bespoke professional-looking SmartPly strips to take part in the event.

The tournament was split into two leagues, the SmartPly Championship Trophy and SmartPly Challenge Cup, and the games, coordinated by the AFL, were fast-paced and hard work - with even goal difference necessary to decide the quarter finalists. The spirit of the tournament was summed up by a comment from the referees, "Not a yellow card was necessary, and every player deserves credit for the spirit in which they entered into the competition."

The results were:

SmartPly Championship Trophy
Winner: McMahon's, Blanchardstown - 1
Runner-up: Brooks Team 2, Balbriggan/Naas Road - 0

SmartPly Challenge Cup
Winner: TJ O'Mahoney's, Ballymount - 4
Runner-up: Brooks Team 1, Balbriggan/Finglas - 1

"We have been hugely impressed by the professionalism of the AFL," says Geoff Rhodes, Coillte Panel Products marketing and business development director. "This might be an amateur activity, but it is professionally run with a high level of expertise. The approach and attitude of the AFL volunteers is fantastic and their commitment and dedication make this partnership, and this event, particularly special."

Noel Kennelly, the AFL's Hon. Secretary said: "We do this for love - it's fun, and something we're passionate about. Today's event gives us at the AFL great satisfaction; we're all part of a bigger team and are really pleased to welcome SmartPly as a new member of that team. In the short time we've been working together, SmartPly's enthusiasm and vision has brought a level of sponsor cooperation the likes of which we have not had before and we are hugely encouraged by having such a good sponsor and partner. Bringing businesses and communities closer is just good business and we're already working together to make the most of this partnership."

During the winner's presentation, Neil Foot, managing director of SmartPly said: "This was such a successful day, and - as part of our AFL Sponsorship over the next three years - we hope, the first of many builders' providers' football tournaments. This was an event intended for the guys on the ground to help raise awareness of SmartPly OSB and the response has been fantastic."

15 January 2008