Manortown United FC

Manortown United in Perrystown

Manortown United FC is a yellow and blue football club from Perrystown and Manor Estate in Dublin. The club was founded in 1969 after two summers of local football on the greens at Mountdown Park and Hillsbrook Crescent.

The club now connects a young academy, schoolboy football, schoolgirl football, under 21 football, senior football, a long volunteer history, club governance policies and the Greentrees Park 8 Acres ground in Dublin 12.

Local leagues before the club

The origins go back to summer 1967, when local residents organised informal leagues on Mountdown Park and Hillsbrook Crescent. The pitches were simple: wooden poles for posts, string for the crossbar and no nets.

Early team names included Tiger Tails, The Braves, The Mini Minors and The Villa. Arthur Worrell, Jim Smith, Jim Dunne and Paddy O Sullivan were among the people who organised those first local leagues.

Why the name Manortown United was chosen

In summer 1969, a larger committee formed with the aim of entering schoolboy football. The name combined Manor Estate and Perrystown: Manor supplied the first part and Town came from Perrystown.

That name still carries the club’s local geography. Manortown United is not only a football title, but a reminder that the club grew from neighbouring Dublin communities working together.

First schoolboy teams in 1969

The first schoolboy games were played on Saturday August 23rd 1969. Manortown had an under 12 team managed by Mick Genocchi and an under 14 team managed by Brendan Roberts on the first day.

A third team, at under 16 level, played the next day on Sunday August 24th 1969. In those early days, players came only from the Perrystown and Manor Estate area, which gave the club a tight local identity.

From St Peter’s School to the 8 Acres

The club first played home matches in a field beside St Peter’s School on Limekiln Road. After a few years, it moved to the 8 Acres, a former quarry that needed a lot of work before it became a playable football ground.

Committee members and players spent summer evenings clearing stones from the 8 Acres surface. The first changing spaces were not a clubhouse, but the garages of Paddy Walsh on Muckross Avenue and Maura Nolan on Greentrees Park.

Yellow and blue identity

Manortown began with blue and purple jerseys shared between teams. In July 1970, the club chose new colours shortly after Brazil won the World Cup, and yellow and blue became the club identity.

Those colours still define Manortown United. The crest uses a blue and yellow shield, the Manortown banner, the United F.C. scroll, a tree and a church shape, plus the 1969 founding marker.

Growth through the 1990s and beyond

Manortown grew steadily after the early committee years. By the mid 1990s the club had 21 teams representing it each season, showing how much the school age pathway had expanded from the first three teams in 1969.

The modern structure includes 10 schoolboy teams, 2 schoolgirl teams and a popular academy. This gives the club a broad route from first football sessions into older teams and senior football.

Academy pathway

The academy is for boys and girls aged 5 to 7. It runs on Friday evenings from 7pm to 8pm, with Greentrees Park 8 Acres and PME Community Centre Hall both named as venues.

The purpose is simple: children enjoy football in a fun setting, make new friends, learn basic skills and prepare for under 8 football. Joey Palmer is named as the academy contact.

Schoolboy, schoolgirl and senior routes

The club’s schoolboy pathway develops players from under 8 through under 18 football. The schoolgirl pathway has teams through the younger teenage age groups and includes active girls routes such as under 9 girls and under 13 girls.

Manortown also has senior football in the Leinster Senior League. The club has a long senior history in both the Amateur Football League and Leinster Senior League, so the youth route sits beside an adult pathway.

Mission and values

Manortown’s mission is to build a successful soccer club for boys, girls and adults of all abilities from the local community. The club places fair play, fun, enjoyment, satisfaction and youth development inside that mission.

The mission also commits the club to training team managers and improving facilities. This links what happens on the pitch with the volunteer and governance work needed to keep the club running.

Governance and safeguarding

Manortown’s governance material is based on Irish child sport and safeguarding guidance, Children First, Our Duty to Care and the FAI Code of Ethics and Best Practice. This gives the club a standards framework beyond match day football.

The coach area sets mandatory steps for coaches and volunteers, including Garda vetting, safeguarding, committee approval and support once recruited. Team communication, player registration, safeguarding policy and coach education sit together in that structure.

Conduct and spectator standards

The spectator code reminds parents and supporters that children are not miniature professionals. It asks adults to avoid excessive pressure, lead by example, applaud sportsmanship and respect opponents.

Verbal abuse of players, match officials, coaches or opposing supporters is not acceptable. The club wants its sideline behaviour to reflect the same fair play values expected from players and coaches.

Equality, diversity and discrimination policy

Manortown promotes equality, diversity and inclusion by valuing differences and creating a sporting culture where everyone can be themselves. The club states that everyone is welcome.

The discrimination policy sets a zero tolerance position against racist, discriminatory, sexual or racially based harassment and other discriminatory behaviour. It also explains that concerns should be raised with clear details and handled confidentially.

Operational procedures

The operational procedures define roles for the executive committee, football committee and child welfare officer. Membership admission, player movement, manager appointment, discipline and appeals all sit within that structure.

Complaints go to the football committee, with appeals handled by the executive committee. Player movement and any non football issue involving a player should involve the appropriate committee route and child welfare oversight where needed.

Travel, social media and player injury information

Travel guidance asks coaches and volunteers to use safe transport practice, proper insurance, seat belts, road rules and avoid being alone with one player other than their own child.

The social media policy asks members to act responsibly and respectfully online, avoid negative posts about referees, opponents, team mates or coaches, and treat online bullying as a conduct issue. Player injury guidance separates DDSL insurance through the player portal from Leinster Senior League insurance handled through the senior league.

Committee and contact structure

Current club contacts include Joe Palmer as chairperson, Barry Walsh as vice chairman, Paul Roberts as honorary president, David Behan as club secretary, Bernadette O Leary as treasurer and Michael Kennedy as coaches liaison officer.

Child welfare is handled by Bernadette O Leary and Michael Kennedy. Aaron Farrell is named for schoolboy and schoolgirl football administration, while Joey Palmer is named for senior football administration and academy contact.

Manortown people and club memory

Manortown’s history is full of volunteer names. John Kane is identified with the first Manortown chairperson role, while Arthur Worrell was the first chairperson of the earlier local leagues. Gerry Reynolds and Eamon Maguire were important early sponsors.

The club history also highlights Jimmy Swords, Luke Byrne, Dave O Brien, Mick Fox, Brian Smith, Mick Hayes, Marty Reynolds, Paddy Brennan, Sonny Knowles and many more. That detail shows how much of the club’s identity is built around long service.

Honours and landmark teams

The senior side under Brian Smith won the Premier League three years in a row and also won the Lynch Cup twice. Senior football was especially strong during the era when Mick Fox was heavily involved as senior secretary.

At under 16 level, Mick Hayes won the All Ireland Cup and the Paul McGrath Cup in 1995 with a team that included Barry Quinn, who later represented the Republic of Ireland senior team. Paddy Brennan’s under 19 side also had a memorable Tolka Park win against Cherry Orchard.

Mini leagues and community events

The mini leagues have been part of Manortown life since the early years and survived because volunteers kept them going. Jimmy Swords and Luke Byrne are especially connected with that part of the story.

The club also had a major senior seven a side that ran for 16 summers from 1981 to 1997, a Christy Brennan five a side at Christmas, and the Sonny Knowles Cup between married and single players from the senior teams.

Online channels and membership

The club website carries current membership, academy, contact, governance, policy and football information. Manortown also uses Facebook, Instagram and X channels for club communication.

The 2026 to 2027 membership route is active, and the academy fee page includes a pay as you go option for term activity. Families should use the club contact structure to confirm the right route for a new player or returning player.

Visiting Greentrees Park 8 Acres

Greentrees Park 8 Acres in Perrystown, Dublin 12 is the ground most closely tied to Manortown United. The IYF venue record also carries the D12 A26Y code for the connected Perrystown ground.

Families should confirm whether their activity is at Greentrees Park 8 Acres or PME Community Centre Hall, especially for academy activity. A quick venue check helps avoid confusion between outdoor and indoor settings.

Parent and player checklist

A new family contacting Manortown United should start with the player’s age, birth year, football experience and route: academy, schoolboy, schoolgirl, under 21 or senior football.

For a first visit, confirm the venue, coach or contact person, arrival time, equipment, membership step and whether the session is at the outdoor 8 Acres ground or PME Community Centre Hall.

• Academy: Ask about Friday evening sessions for 5 to 7 year olds.
• Girls route: Ask about the under 9 girls and under 13 girls contacts where relevant.
• Safeguarding: Use the named welfare contacts for welfare questions.
• Visitors: Confirm Greentrees Park 8 Acres, D12 A26Y, or PME Community Centre Hall before travel.

Manortown United summary

Manortown United combines 1967 local leagues, the 1969 schoolboy entry, a name built from Manor Estate and Perrystown, the yellow and blue Brazil inspired identity, the 8 Acres ground, an academy, schoolboy and schoolgirl teams, under 21 and senior football.

The club is also defined by its volunteer memory, strong conduct policies, safeguarding requirements, equality position, social media guidance and a clear committee structure for families in Perrystown and the wider Dublin 12 area.