Red and white football since 2016
Ballivor FC grew from one youth team into a village club with a clear red and white identity, NERL pathway and a long running home pitch ambition.
Ballivor FC identity
Ballivor FC is a County Meath soccer club built around a red and white identity, a black horse crest and a local football story that began in 2016. The club grew from one youth side into a wider community club with boys, girls and adult football part of its public pathway.
The club name matters because Ballivor has spent several seasons building a football base for its own village. That gives the guide a clear theme: a young club, rapid growth, strong local backing and a long search for a permanent home pitch.
| Founded | 2016 |
|---|---|
| First team | Under 10 boys |
| Home colours | Red and white vertical stripes, black shorts, black socks |
| County | Meath |
| Association | NERL |
| Current match venue | Delvin Sports and Leisure Centre |
From one team to a village club
The first Ballivor FC side was an under 10 team in 2016. From that start, the club built a broader youth and community structure and became a recognised football name in south west Meath.
By 2023 the club was public about the challenge that shaped its early years: it did not yet have its own Ballivor pitch. The campaign for a village base became part of the club identity as much as the teams themselves.
Growth and membership
Ballivor’s growth can be read through several useful markers: a first under 10 team, a youth spread from under 8 to under 18 in earlier club activity, a developing adult route and a member community using the official club app.
The safest current reading is that Ballivor FC is a growing local club rather than a single youth team. Weekly team numbers can move by season, but the long term direction is clear: more children, more families and a stronger village football base.
Current season pathway
The connected 2026 to 2027 football structure shows boys teams at under 13, under 15 and under 16 level. Those groups place Ballivor inside the NERL youth football environment used by clubs across Meath and nearby areas.
The age spread gives the club a middle and older youth pathway. It helps players move from early development toward stronger teenage football while keeping the Ballivor crest and village link at the centre.
| Under 13 | Boys football in Eolas Technologies Division 5 settings |
|---|---|
| Under 15 | Boys football in Eolas Technologies Division 2 settings |
| Under 16 | Boys football in ETL Networks Division 2 settings |
| Season | 2026 to 2027 |
| Pathway note | The live team modules carry the detailed competition records |
Girls and adult route
Ballivor’s public club pathway includes boys, girls and adult football. That broader identity is important even where the current connected team module is strongest at boys youth level.
For a family in Ballivor, the club is therefore more than an isolated age group. It is a route into soccer participation that can include younger players, teenage football, family volunteering and adult club activity.
Home colours and badge
The Ballivor home kit is red and white vertical stripes with black shorts and black socks. Those colours match the circular crest, where the red and white striped centre sits behind a black horse silhouette.
The badge is direct and memorable: Ballivor Football Club wording around the outside, the horse at the centre and a clean red, white and black identity. It gives the club a strong look on team cards, match records and local fundraising material.
Delvin match venue
The current match venue is Delvin Sports and Leisure Centre at Balrath South, Delvin, County Westmeath. It is outside Ballivor village, but it has served as the practical match base while the club works toward its own local pitch.
Families and visiting teams should plan travel to Delvin unless a coach gives a different meeting point for a particular session. Confirm the pitch, arrival time and footwear before setting out.
Current match venue: Delvin Sports and Leisure Centre, Balrath South, Delvin.
Ground story
Ballivor’s ground story is central to the club. Early home games were staged at the MDL in Navan, and the move to Delvin in 2020 brought matches closer to Ballivor while the club continued searching for a village pitch.
The home pitch project matters because a local ground changes the experience for players and parents. It means easier access, stronger local pride, and a place where the club can gather around its own weekly routine.
| 2016 | First under 10 team starts the club story |
|---|---|
| Early years | Home games staged away from Ballivor |
| 2020 | Matches move to Delvin because it is closer to the village |
| 2023 | Fundraising supports the Ballivor home pitch campaign |
| Long term aim | A village football base within walking distance for local families |
Fundraising culture
Ballivor FC has relied on community fundraising and local business support while building the club. Fundraisers, sponsorship, kit support and parent effort all sit behind the football that appears on match day.
That community backing explains how a young club can keep moving. Pitches, equipment, insurance, training tools and team costs all require support, and Ballivor’s home pitch campaign shows how local football often depends on village level commitment.
Official club app
Ballivor FC has an official club app for members. The app is intended to help members stay connected with club news, upcoming events and team information in one place.
For parents, a club app can reduce confusion around notices and events. It is most useful when families register with the club, follow the right team and keep contact details current.
Club contacts
Public football and community records name Robert Judge as a secretary contact and Mark O’Grady as a chairperson contact. The official app also gives Ballivor FC a support email route.
Families should still use the current club channel when making contact because volunteer roles can change. A clear first message should include the player age, school year, nearest area and the team or pathway question.
| Secretary | Robert Judge |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Mark O’Grady |
| Email route | ballivorfc@gmail.com |
| First message | Player age, school year, previous experience and parent contact |
| Travel query | Ask whether the meeting point is Delvin or a team specific location |
Under 13 football
Under 13 football is a key development step because players begin to understand shape, decisions and positional responsibility more clearly. Ballivor’s under 13 group gives younger teenage players a structured place in the club pathway.
The best support at this age is steady: arrive on time, listen well, keep effort high and learn from each match. The live football modules carry weekly outcomes; this guide helps families understand the pathway behind them.
Under 15 football
Under 15 football asks more of players physically and tactically. Ballivor’s under 15 route helps teenagers keep a football identity during the years when many young people leave sport.
Players at this stage benefit from clear expectations around training, attitude and match day preparation. A local club can keep those standards close to home and easier for families to support.
Under 16 football
Under 16 football is close to the transition into older youth and adult environments. Ballivor’s under 16 groups help players stay connected to the club while preparing for stronger football demands.
That age band also matters for younger players. When children see older Ballivor teams still active, the pathway feels real and worth staying with.
Village role
Ballivor FC gives the village a soccer identity alongside the wider sports and community life of the area. A football club creates weekly structure: training nights, match days, fundraising, travel plans and shared responsibility.
That routine can be especially valuable in a growing village. Children get a familiar team, parents meet other families, and volunteers build something that belongs to Ballivor rather than only to a league table.
Planning a first visit
A first visit should be planned around the confirmed team message. The current match venue is Delvin Sports and Leisure Centre, but training, fundraising activity and future Ballivor based plans can involve different meeting points.
Before travelling, confirm the location, time, footwear, water, warm up expectations and adult contact. Visiting teams should allow enough time for parking and pitch checks.
Parent and player checklist
New families should ask for the correct age group, whether places are open, where the first session is held, and what a player should bring. A clear question saves volunteer time and helps coaches answer properly.
Players should bring effort, respect and patience. A club that started with one under 10 team and built outward depends on young people learning together over time.
| Player details | Name, age, school year and football experience |
|---|---|
| Session details | Venue, time, footwear and water |
| Parent details | Contact number and preferred communication route |
| Team fit | Ask about the right age group before attending |
| Match day | Confirm Delvin or any alternate meeting point |
What defines Ballivor FC
Ballivor FC is defined by a 2016 start, red and white stripes, a black horse crest, a growing youth pathway, an official member app, Delvin match use and the long push for a Ballivor home pitch.
The club’s story is practical and community led: a village wanted soccer, built teams, found places to play and kept working toward a football home of its own.
