Rossleighan Park football for Portlaoise
Founded in 1966, Portlaoise AFC brings academy, school age, youth and adult football together at Rossleighan Park in County Laois.
Rossleighan Park football since 1966
Portlaoise AFC has been part of football life in Portlaoise since 1966. The club is based at Rossleighan Park in County Laois, where its academy, schoolboy, schoolgirl, youth and adult groups share the same home base.
That gives the club a clear local identity. Players can begin with small sided football, stay involved through youth football and still see senior men and senior women using the same club setting. For families, that makes Portlaoise AFC a long term football home rather than a single age group stop.
Finding the club
Rossleighan Park is the place to look for Portlaoise AFC activity. The ground sits in Portlaoise and is used for training and match activity across the club, so families checking their first visit should confirm the exact pitch, arrival time and team contact before travelling.
General administration and joining enquiries can be sent to pafcsecretary@gmail.com. For a query linked to an existing team, parents and members should use the relevant coach or manager through the club communication channels.
Academy and younger player pathway
The club structure begins with academy football and moves into a large school age programme. Membership categories include U5 Academy for players born in 2022, U6 to U8 Academy for players born from 2019 to 2021, and a U9 to U15 Development Academy for players born from 2012 to 2018.
That spread matters because it shows an entry route for very young players as well as a development route for children already moving into organised team football. A Football For All membership category is also part of the club membership setup, giving another route into the club for families looking for inclusive football.
Boys and youth team depth
Portlaoise AFC carries a broad set of boys and youth groups. The younger school age section includes U9 AFC, U9 Athletic, U9 United, U9 Rovers and U9 Town. U10 includes Rovers, Athletic, Town and United, while U11 has Athletic, Town, United and Rovers.
The pathway continues with U12 United, Rovers, Athletic and Town, followed by U13 AFC, Rovers, Town and United. Older groups include U14 Rovers, Town and AFC, U15 Athletic and Town, U16 AFC and Town, U17 AFC, U18 AFC, plus U19 groups linked with CCFL and LSL football.
Girls and senior football
The girls section gives families a visible route through U11 Girls, U13 Girls, U15 Girls and U17 Girls. That creates a clear progression from primary school years into older youth football and helps girls stay within the same club environment as they move through age bands.
Adult football is also part of the Portlaoise AFC structure. Senior Men and Senior Women groups sit alongside the academy and youth teams, which strengthens the sense that the club is built around a full player pathway for the town.
Coaching, welfare and communication
Each team is supported by volunteer coaches and managers who organise training, match preparation and routine team messages. The wider club is also supported by committee members, parents and sponsors, giving the playing programme the volunteer base needed to serve a large number of teams.
Safeguarding and welfare are part of the club structure. Coaches, managers, volunteers, parents and players are expected to follow the club codes of conduct and grassroots football safeguarding requirements, with underage communication requiring suitable adult oversight.
Facilities and future development
Rossleighan Park supports the club programme across academy, underage, youth and adult football. It is also a shared base for coaches, volunteers, members, families and visiting clubs, so the facility carries more than match day value for the Portlaoise football community.
The club is continuing to invest in the long term development of Rossleighan Park, including a new full size all weather pitch. That project is intended to increase playing capacity, improve access to dependable training space and support future football growth in the club.
Membership and first enquiry checklist
Membership categories for the 2026/27 season cover U5 Academy, U6 to U8 Academy, U9 to U15 Development Academy, U9 to U18 teams, senior teams and Football For All. Family discount arrangements are part of the membership setup, and payment can be made as a full payment or by three monthly instalments.
A first enquiry should include the player name and year of birth so the club can direct the family to the right age group. New families should also check the current membership window, FAI Connect requirements and the correct contact route before arriving for a first session.
