June 28 2010 The future's bright as Mini World Cup stars shine in the sun
One of the best ever Mini World Cup tournaments ended yesterday with Bridgewater Centre Park, Lamberton, a perfect setting, vibrant colour and sunshine matched by some great football on display from the ever willing children.  Run over two successive weekends the Mini World Cup proved to be a massive winner with all the participating children thoroughly enjoying the experience.  Dare we suggest it, but the level of skills on view in the younger under 6 and under 8 age categories was without doubt the best it has ever been, with the youngsters providing infinitely more entertainment than their overpaid counterparts out in South Africa, playing in some other World Cup!  Unquestionably the increasing popularity of Arklow Town's 6's and 7's Club (it returns in September!) is paving the way for children to take their first steps in football, in an environment where the emphasis is on children enjoying learning the skills and having fun, fun, fun!  Some of the skills paraded by children so young was breathtaking.  Great goals, great skills, great team work.  Add in a little sunshine and we have all the ingredients for an excellent Mini World Cup.  The children duly obliged, with some of the best football witnessed in Mini World Cup competition ever.  Competition in the Under 10 and Under 12 categories matched anything in previous years, with Spain turning on the style in the Under 10 Final to lift the Cup, a thrilling 3-2 win over a gallant Portugal .  The U10 Plate 1 Final was equally as thrilling a contest, with a golden goal from Holland edging the Dutch team past Finland.  The Plate 2 Final saw England ease past Germany.  We are reliably informed that Fabio Capello was not amused when he was informed of the news, the Italian throwing a strop and getting on a plane the following day, departing South Africa to go and count some money in the sunshine!  Argentina beat Chile 5-2 in an all South American Bowl Final.  The craziest game took place in the Trophy Final, where Italy and Paraguay went goal mad!  7-5 in favour of the Italians, seeing them lift the Trophy honours.  The Shield Final was contested between Cameroon and Brazil, with the Cameroon side proving too strong, winning 3-0.

Drama all the way in the Under 12 competition.  Divided into two groups the level of competition was high, with little to seperate top and bottom sides, ensuring the action remained keenly contested all the way.  Sudden death penalties was needed to settle a thrilling semi final between Angola and USA, with the African side edging the dramatics.  South Africa made it an all African Mini World Cup Final when beating Ghana.  The final itself proved equally as tense, with plenty of goalmouth action at both ends it was a mystery how the decider ended scoreless.  Into Golden Goal extra time, the Mini World Cup was won with a header from Dáire O'Conchubhair squeezing into the top corner of the South African net.  Dáire enjoyed a double celebration when he was also named as the Best Player of the tournament, lifting the coveted Maradona Trophy.  The USA earned a consolation of sorts when defeating Ghana 2-0 in the Shield Final.  Poland proved too strong for Japan in the Trophy Final while Australia edged past Sweden in the Bowl Final.

Everyone at Arklow Town Football Club would sincerely like to thank the many children and their families who all contributed to making this year's Mini World Cup tournament quite simply, the best ever.  In particular, we would like to encourage those who are experiencing the thrills and spills of the Mini World Cup for the very first time to consider joining the Club after the (short!) summer break.  Our 6's and 7's Club is an amazing platform to introduce younger children to the beautiful game while our record at schoolboy/girl level within the Wicklow & District Schoolboy/girl League speaks for itself.  On that note, a timely reminder that the three Irish internationals who presented the trophies and medals after the weekend's action - they all began their football playing in Arklow Town Football Club's Mini World Cup.

Now in its 33rd year - and stronger than ever!

Images from two weeks of sunshine football:

More images to follow, a gallery of images from Mr. Joe Ledwith will appear here in the coming days.

June 21 2009 Arklow Town FC Mini World Cup 2009
Wow!  What a wonderful two weekends of fabulous football and fun we've enjoyed at Arklow Town Football Club, with the 400 plus children lighting up Lamberton with their efforts on the field of play.  For some it's fun, just to step across the white line and onto the pitch.  For others, it's Roy of the Rovers stuff and the be all and end all - to be on the team that wins the Mini World Cup!  Of course, winning is not paramount to what makes the Mini World Cup what it is.  The Under 6's and Under 8's, though obviously non-competitive forever throws up some wonderful moments while there's a greater level of football and competition, obviously, with the older Under 10 and Under 12 categories.  This season's Under 12 tournament was a very close affair with Ghana edging past USA in one of our most dramatic finals ever, Eoghan Doyle netting the winner with just five seconds remaining in normal time.  The Under 10 final was an all South American affair with Chile putting one over Argentina to win the trophy.  The Maradona trophy, awarded to the player deemed the Player of the Tournament was won by Ghana's Keith Byrne.  Congratulations to all the players and their families who supported them so well.  Right, anyone for a hotdog?

Below, we have a gallery of images from the first weekend of the Mini World Cup (June 13/14).  Images from the following weekend's fun will appear shortly.

July 13 2008 Mini World Cup basks in glorious sunshine
Glorious sunshine enveloped Arklow Town’s Bridgewater Centre Park this weekend as this year’s Mini World Cup tournament drew to a highly successful close in front of a huge gathering. An annual highlight for many children this year’s competition attracted a record number of players of all ages, with over 350 children playing across the various age groups over the two weekends. The U12 competition was a keenly contested affair with Angola and Sweden eventually winning through to the final. In the final itself, matters were level with Luke Walker and Ryan Murray netting, for Angola and Sweden respectively. The Hannah Roche Cup was won however with a wonderful half volley late in the game from Angolan captain, Luke Walker. His team mate Shane Walker created a little piece of club history when being recognised as the player of the tournament – a title bestowed on him last season also and in doing so, lifting the Maradona trophy and the Paddy Furlong trophy, he became the first player ever in the thirty year history of the Mini World Cup to retain the annual award. Shane received his award from John Kavanagh while all medals and other trophies were handed out by two of the club’s current crop of international players – David O’Neill (U18) and Shane Murray (U16). 

The U10 competition was a gripping battle with little to separate the twelve competing sides. Finland and Germany won through to the Final with the Finns the only side to go through the tournament unbeaten. However, in the final, in typical German fashion echoing the real German side, they were finished off as the Germans, through Thomas Rowan and Corey Mills, scored two goals without reply to win the cup. The Sainey Wolohan Memorial Trophy was presented to the winning captain, Matthew O'Neill of Germany .

Both U8 and U6 competitions provided plenty of cheer, with some of the younger children participating in football for the first time. All players were given trophies at the end of the tournament, and a reminder that international Shane Murray himself first kicked a ball in the club’s Mini World Cup some years ago!

The club are now busy preparing for next season and trials are being held for all age levels over the coming weeks. Details are readily available on the club’s website and also on notices around Arklow. All new players wanting to come and join Arklow Town Football Club are more than welcome.

Summer 2005 Another successful Mini World Cup
Photo's gathered from the days before we had an official club website to host such images.  Always great to look back on, if you have any old Mini World Cup images you would like to share with us then please do so by emailing the webmaster.