PHIL SMITH                                    

The Kingscourt Stars club would like to thank and congratulate Phil Smith on his completion of a very successful tenure manning the helm of the Cavan County Board as its Chairman. Phil always represents the club with distinction and with pride, and in so doing, served his county tirelessly, with no task too great, or too little. Kingscourt Stars are extremely proud of him.

 During his tenure as County Chairman, Phil brought his professional experience and forward thinking approach to the organisation of the Association within the County.

 Phil created GAA history by becoming the first county chairman to engage an independent recruitment company to assist in finding a new football manager, that being current incumbent Tom Carr. The Cavan faithful remain quietly optimistic that after another kind draw for the 2010 Ulster Championship, an Ulster Final appearance is a very realistic ambition. And then you never know what might happen!

 During the difficult economic downturn Phil successfully helped organise and execute the launch of the Club Breifne membership scheme which registered an admirable number of members especially given these difficult financial times.

 During Phil’s tenure, he made significant changes to the governance, something which was very necessary, but which is work that can go unseen and thus unappreciated. The number of people going to County Board meetings was significantly reduced and hence the flow of information to the clubs was much improved.

 On the coaching and development side, there are now established Club/School links. There are five full-time coaches across the county, who take responsibility for clubs and schools – with St. Patrick’s College now having a full-time coach assigned to it. Furthermore the new floodlit AstroTurf pitch will be shortly completed at Breffni Park, so the seeds have definitely been sown.

 Phil made discipline a high priority on his agenda with clubs and individuals knowing that the full letter of disciplinary procedure, as I am sure some clubs and some individuals will testify.

 We have seen the return of the Cavan Junior panel which, with a bigger buy-in from players, should prove to be valuable feeder to the senior squad and source of continuity of development for the undoubted young talent in the county.

 As with all positions of leadership there are often challenges to meet and important decisions to make. We credit Phil with always conducting himself with grace, humility and dignity which is a credit to him and to his family. No function was ever too insignificant, nor was any distance ever too far to travel, as Phil covered every high road and by road of the county and travelled to every pitch, club rooms and parish hall.

 Quite fittingly, one of Phil’s last official engagements as County Chairman was to joyously present a winning trophy to his own beloved Kingscourt Stars Senior Football team for the first time in 16 years, as they captured the Division Two trophy, signaling a welcome return to Division One status for 2010.

 After a stewardship of serious hard work and sacrifices, Phil’s family get to see a little bit more of him, and hopefully the Kingscourt Stars get to see a little bit more of him also. There’s an AGM coming up too Phil, so we’ll see you there!

by Joe McCarthy