Rush · County Dublin · Leinster
Rush Athletic FC
A North County Dublin club founded in 1970, with football from early academy sessions through youth, senior and Football For All activity.
Club roots
Football for Rush since 1970
Rush Athletic began with one schoolboy team and a simple aim: give boys and girls from Rush the chance to play soccer close to home. More than fifty years later, that promise still shapes the club’s place in the town.
Rush is a coastal community in North County Dublin, and the club’s grounds at St Catherine’s Park sit close to everyday family life. Training, matches, camps and volunteering all meet in the same local setting.
Founders
Ten people who started the journey
Victor Loughman, James Redmond, Harry White, Anthony Butterly, Sean McBride, Alan Jones, Richard Coscoran, Gert Van Westernen, Charlie Armstrong and Johnny Callaghan formed Rush Athletic in 1970.
They wanted local children to have a team of their own. Their first schoolboy side gave the town a football identity that could grow with its families.
The first senior step
From schoolboy football to adult football
A senior team followed the first schoolboy side in 1971. That early connection between youth and adult football has remained part of Rush Athletic’s character, giving players a longer route through the club as they get older.
A new player does not need to know the whole pathway on day one. Coaches and volunteers can explain the appropriate section, training expectations and the next step for the player’s age and experience.
A remarkable season
The 1998/99 clean sweep
The 1998/99 senior season is a landmark in Rush Athletic’s history. The club won the Leinster Senior League Premier Saturday Division, the Wally Winn Cup, the Lummy O’Reilly Cup and the Austin Mullen Cup.
That run also brought the Leinster Senior League Club of the Year award. It remains a proud example of what a local club can achieve when players, coaches and volunteers pull in the same direction.
Young players
Academy, teams and camps
Rush Athletic gives children several ways into football: academy sessions, age-group teams, schoolboy and schoolgirl football, seasonal camps and goalkeeper coaching. The programme is designed to let a child begin with simple skills and grow into the game.
Families should check the latest club notice for the age group, venue, weather arrangements and registration route. Timetables can move during a season, especially for outdoor sessions.
Inclusive football
Football For All in Rush
Football For All activity opened another route into the club for children and adults with additional needs. Rush Athletic has worked with Prosper Fingal and football development coaches to create sessions where participation, confidence and enjoyment come first.
Inclusive football is part of the club’s wider promise: players should be able to find a welcoming entry point, with coaches adapting the session so everyone can take part.
Boys and girls
A pathway that grows with the player
Rush Athletic supports boys’ and girls’ football across its youth programme, alongside senior sections. The right group depends on date of birth, ability, experience and the places available when a family enquires.
A clear introduction helps the club place a new player well. Share what the player enjoys, what they have played before and what kind of football they would like to try.
Home ground
St Catherine’s Park
Rush Athletic is based at St Catherine’s Park, Rush, County Dublin. The park has soccer pitches, a playground, a walking route and an all-weather area used by the neighbouring school and community.
The club’s football uses more than one playing surface, so the exact team listing matters. Confirm which pitch and entrance apply before travelling to a match or training session.
Clubhouse
A building made for busy weekends
Dermot Ahern opened the Rush Athletic clubhouse in 2006. It brought dressing rooms, a kitchen, meeting space, a club shop and a compact indoor training area together beside the pitches.
A clubhouse changes the rhythm of a local club. Teams can prepare, volunteers can organise the day and families have a familiar place to ask a question or collect the right kit.
Coaching
Good football needs good support
Rush Athletic encourages coaches to take FAI training and continue through the coaching pathway. That investment appears in the everyday session: clear instructions, age-appropriate challenges and adults who understand how children learn.
Parents and players can help by listening to coaches, respecting match officials and giving young players room to enjoy the game. A positive touchline is part of player development too.
Child welfare
Safe, fun and fair
Rush Athletic’s child welfare approach is built around football that is safe, enjoyable and fair. Adults involved in the club share responsibility for protecting children from abuse, neglect, bullying and other harm.
The club’s child welfare information explains the welfare route and the people to contact with a concern. Families should raise questions early and expect them to be taken seriously.
All-weather plans
Making winter training easier
Rush Athletic has been developing an all-weather training pitch behind the clubhouse. A reliable local surface would reduce the need for teams to travel out of town during difficult winter weeks and give more sections a dependable place to train.
Projects like this take fundraising, planning and community support. Check the club’s latest update for progress, access arrangements and any opportunities to help.
Community life
A town club beyond the fixture
Rush Athletic is a meeting point for children, parents, coaches and older players. The academy, senior football, camps, Football For All and club events keep different parts of the community connected across the year.
That breadth is a strength when people share the work. A short shift in the shop, help with a team message or a hand at a fundraising event can be as valuable as a full coaching role.
Joining
Start with a useful introduction
When a player wants to join, have their date of birth, previous club or school football, preferred position and availability ready. The club can then suggest the correct age group or senior section and explain the next session.
The Rush Athletic contact route is the place to ask about joining, camps, Football For All or volunteering. Confirm the venue and time before setting out.
Match day
Plan for St Catherine’s Park
Allow time to find the right pitch and dress for changing coastal weather. The park is an open community setting, so keep entrances clear, respect nearby homes and follow directions from club volunteers.
Visiting teams should confirm kick-off, pitch number, changing-room arrangements, kit colours and parking before travelling. Families attending for the first time can make the day easier by arriving a little early.
The next chapter
Keep Rush football moving forward
Rush Athletic’s history runs from ten founders and one schoolboy team to a broad town club with youth, senior and inclusive football. The clean sweep of 1998/99, the 2006 clubhouse and the all-weather project each belong to the same continuing story.
For a new player, the next move is straightforward: ask which section fits, confirm St Catherine’s Park and arrive ready to meet the people who make football happen in Rush.
