Carniny Amateur and Youth Football Club was founded in the summer of 2000 from very humble beginnings, involving six children kicking a ball around at Carnhill Playing Fields, Carniny, Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

A Coaching School was formed by a handful of interested parents under the auspices of the IFA Model for Mini Soccer and the number of children (boys and girls) wanting to attend grew very rapidly and had reached 60 by the autumn of that year.

A competition was launched for the children within the Club to design their Club's Badge and the winning badge clearly reflects the Club's aims - Football, the handshake as a symbol of Friendship and the laurel leaf as a symbol of vitality and youth.

Since the formation we have made steady progress and now have a membership of almost 250 young people, fielding eight full-sided and several mini soccer teams backed by a flourishing mini soccer centre.

Recent times have seen a new development within the club with the formation of a Senior team playing in the Ballymena and Provincial Football League. The club moved on to play in the Northern Amateur League and now play their football in the Ballymena Saturday Morning League.

The club has recently established links with Premiership club Sunderland AFCand already has had coaches come to Ballymena to host sessions for our club. The club has also become a Coerver Coaching Partner Club introducing the coaching methods into the Football Development Centre. We have also secured 1 Star Accreditation in the IFA Club Excellence Mark Program.

The Club continues to expand and develop, which is mainly due to an enthusiastic committee and team of coaches. We are all indebted to these people who give of their time voluntarily, ensuring the Club is at the forefront of football in Northern Ireland.

Yours in Sport

BILLY O'FLAHERTY MBE

SECRETARY

Carniny Amateur and Youth FC

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