Convoy · County Donegal
Football and community at Orchard Park
Convoy Arsenal brings youth and adult football to Orchard Park in the east Donegal village of Convoy. The club’s record includes senior league success, girls’ football and a memorable run at the 2026 Foyle Cup. Ground development has continued alongside the teams, with the Alfie Bates Stand recognising decades of voluntary work.
Youth football
From local matches to the Foyle Cup
Convoy’s youth programme includes boys’ football, with an under 16 team competing at the 2026 Foyle Cup. The club’s quarter final report records its first appearance in the tournament’s semi finals after a penalty shootout win against Heights. Ask the club for the current age groups, training days and available places before attending.
Girls’ football
A growing part of the club
A May 2023 match report identifies that season as Convoy’s first in the under 12 girls’ league. By May 2026, its under 14 girls were competing in Donegal Women’s League football against Letterkenny Rovers. These dated records show the girls’ programme developing; contact the club for the present squads and the coach for your child’s birth year.
Joining
Get in touch before your first session
The Donegal Junior League directory lists paddygildeawow@hotmail.com as the club contact. The official Facebook page carries match reports, club notices and events. Include the player’s age when enquiring. Confirm the registration fee, training schedule, equipment and team contact directly, as a current complete membership price list has not been verified.
Adult football
Saturday and Sunday competition
The September 2026 league schedule lists Convoy in Finn Travel Saturday Division 3 and Donegal Physiotherapy Division 2 on Sundays. Home fixtures use Orchard Park. Check the relevant team’s latest fixture before travelling, as the two schedules are separate and dates can change.
Community
Players return for the Danny McBride event
The club’s August 2025 account describes a summer of football at Orchard Park: an over 40s cup, 26 Foyle Cup matches hosted during tournament week and the Danny McBride Street League. Past players returned alongside younger participants. These events give families another way to meet the people who maintain and support the club.
Club story
League progress, youth football and a new stand
The published account of football in Convoy records a Division One title in 2004, a Premier Division runners up finish in 2005 and a move into the Ulster Senior League that year. A precise foundation date has not been confirmed in the sources used here.
The club also contributed players to football beyond the village. Jonathan Minnock’s career record traces his move from Convoy Arsenal to Finn Harps in January 1994. He progressed through the youth and reserve teams before reaching the first team in 1995 and later won the First Division with Harps in 2004.
In July 2025, Convoy announced the naming of its new stand for Alfie Bates, then club president. Its tribute described his work on ground improvements over 25 years and service ranging from under 6 coach to chairman. The club’s August report confirmed that the opening had taken place.
Another milestone followed in July 2026. Convoy drew 2–2 with Heights in the Foyle Cup quarter final and won the shootout 4–3. The club report identifies this as its first semi final in the competition. It is a clear recent achievement in a story that includes both facilities and the players using them.