Johnstown FC

Johnstown FC identity

Johnstown FC serves Johnstown and the wider Navan area in County Meath. The club was founded in 2004 as a senior football club and then added underage teams in 2005.

The club describes itself as Your club in the community. That phrase fits a pathway that now includes academy football, juvenile teams, youths football and senior football.

Why the club started

Johnstown began with local people who wanted to play soccer together as a team. A year later, the club widened its purpose by creating football for young people in the area.

That move shaped the modern club. Johnstown is not only a senior team story; it is also a player development story for children, teenagers and adults around Navan.

Academy entry point

The academy is the youngest part of the Johnstown pathway. The club describes academy football for boys and girls aged five to seven, with basic skills and enjoyment at the centre.

Parents should confirm the current day, time, pitch and registration step before attending. A first message should include the child’s age, school year and whether the child has played before.

Juvenile football range

Johnstown has built a wide juvenile pathway. The club describes juvenile teams from under 7 to under 18, while its team areas also show under 8, under 9, under 11, under 12, under 14, under 15, under 16 and youths sections.

That range means families should contact the club with the player’s year of birth, not only the age group they think applies. The club can then guide them toward the right coach or group.

Girls and boys pathway

The 2026 to 2027 team picture includes boys football through several age bands and girls football at under 12 level, with a girls youths team also part of the wider live club picture.

For families, the practical point is to ask which squad is active for the player before arriving. A club with many teams can have different training nights, coaches, competition levels and pitch arrangements.

Senior football

Senior football remains part of the Johnstown identity. The club has senior team areas and adult football is connected through the North Eastern Football League.

That adult route matters for older youths because it gives the pathway a visible destination. It also keeps the 2004 senior foundation connected to the club’s present day football structure.

2025 senior breakthrough

Johnstown’s first team won the NEFL Division 1 title in 2025 and then added the Challenge Cup for the first time. The cup final was played at Sullivan and Lambe Park in Drogheda on 8 November.

Johnstown beat Trim Celtic 3 to 2 in the final. Sean Manning scored twice and Lee Duffy added a penalty, giving the club a major senior landmark.

A season with memory

The 2025 senior success carried extra feeling because manager Christy Kavanagh had died earlier that year. The team marked the final win with his photograph as part of the celebrations.

That detail belongs to the club story because it explains why the trophy meant more than a result. It connected a strong football season with the people behind it.

Underage honours

Johnstown’s underage pathway has its own honours. The under 17 team received its NECSL league trophy before a home game against Kingscourt in March 2016, after securing the title the previous December.

That milestone gives families another example of Johnstown teams progressing beyond weekly training. It sits alongside the modern academy and youth structure.

MDL Grounds match base

Johnstown currently plays from the MDL Grounds on Trim Road, Navan. The venue is a shared football base on the outskirts of Navan with Eircode C15 AK5V.

For visiting teams, the MDL Grounds are the key travel anchor. Confirm the pitch number, surface, changing access and arrival time with the home team before setting out.

Travel anchor: MDL Grounds, Trim Road, Navan, County Meath, C15 AK5V.

Shared venue facilities

The MDL Grounds include grass and synthetic football space, floodlighting, car parking, dressing rooms, showers and toilets. These are shared venue facilities, so access can depend on the match and pitch allocation.

Parents should ask about the surface before choosing footwear. Coaches should also check whether changing rooms are assigned and where teams should warm up.

A future Johnstown home

Johnstown has also stated an objective to move to the Johnstown area of Navan, where a club house and grounds can be developed. That ambition is tied to membership growth across several age groups.

Until that move is achieved, MDL Grounds remain the practical travel point for families and away teams. A future local ground would make the club even more visible in Johnstown itself.

Club contacts

Shane Sheridan is the named secretary contact on 087 680 6633. Eoin Sheridan is the named fixture secretary contact on 086 309 0367.

A first message should include the player age, year of birth, pathway needed and whether the question is about academy, juvenile, youths or senior football.

Additional adult contacts

Adult football contact points also include Fergal Beirne on 086 161 7650 and Kevin Kelly on 087 258 6258. For most family enquiries, start with the secretary or the relevant coach.

For an arranged match, the fixture secretary is the most practical contact. For a new player, the pathway question should come first so the club can direct the message.

Kit and colours

The main kit uses red and white striped shirts, blue shorts and blue socks. The second kit uses blue shirt, blue shorts and blue socks.

Those colours match the crest, where red and white stripes sit below the castle panel. Visiting teams should confirm colours if there is any chance of a clash.

Crest details

The anniversary crest shows the Johnstown shield with castle, red and white stripes, dragons and a crown. The upper banner says 20 years Johnstown F.C. and the lower banner shows 2004 to 2024.

The mark also carries the FAI Club Mark and Circle K detail. That gives the badge a clear twentieth anniversary identity while keeping the club shield at the centre.

FAI Club Mark

Johnstown’s twentieth anniversary period also included FAI Club Mark recognition. For families, that points to a club trying to organise its football environment, volunteer work and player experience to a recognised standard.

It does not replace a first conversation with the coach, but it is a useful sign when parents are choosing where a child should play.

Member communication

Johnstown uses Spond guidance for members. Once a player has a place, families should ask which group to join and what information is shared there.

That helps avoid missed updates. Training changes, weather notes, meet times and team reminders are often easier to manage when the family is in the right group.

First visit checklist

For a first visit, confirm whether the session or match is at MDL Grounds and which pitch is assigned. Arrive early enough to park, find the coach and let the player settle.

Bring boots suited to the surface, shin guards, water and weather gear. If the player is new, ask whether a parent should remain pitch side and what registration step comes next.

Away team guide

Away teams should confirm the MDL pitch number, surface, changing room access and warm up area. The venue is shared, so clear instructions matter more than simply knowing the ground name.

Coaches should also confirm the best contact if delayed. That keeps match day calm for young players, families and referees.

What defines Johnstown FC

Johnstown FC is defined by a 2004 senior start, underage growth from 2005, a five to seven academy, juvenile teams into the older age groups, senior football and the ongoing ambition for a Johnstown area home.

For parents, the club offers a structured local pathway around Navan. For players, it offers academy football, competitive youth teams, senior ambition and a community identity in red, white and blue.