Take the road out as far as Monivea, take a left in Monivea village and after some miles on meandering roads, turn right at the ruined castle at Garbally and you will come across the little hamlet of ‘Colemanstown’. This was once the way our location was described. Now, thanks to the motorway, finding us is far simpler; just exit the M6 at Athenry or Kiltulla for the most direct route to us at Eircode H53 E275.
Colemanstown United FC was founded in 1982 and from that very first day when Gerry Moran hand delivered our first affiliation form to Michael Geary in the Galway FA office, the club played a major role in the affairs of the community ever since. There is little doubt our community club has come a long way since its formation.
Our first ever Colemanstown United F.C. Committee was elected as follows: President: Frank Burke; Chairman: Paddy Hynes; Secretary: Gerry Moran; Treasurer: David Coppinger and Manager: Ossie O’Grady.
In those early days training took place in 2 different fields, one directly at the back of Burke’s Bar and the 2nd at the front of Burke’s where we eventually settled and now call our club grounds. We are forever grateful to Frank and Bernie Burke and family for their extreme generosity and goodwill in donating the pitch, training grounds and land for the development of our state of the art facilities which we now boast today. This was one of the biggest steps forward in the development of the club.
In our first official league match we played Kilcornan Utd. (now Colga F.C.) in Division 2 of the Galway District League. We had the greatest start winning 9-1. The good times were about to begin! The panel that day was: PJ Finnerty, Liam Burke, Noel Kelly, Paddy Hynes, Joe Coppinger, Noel Finnerty, Thomas Hynes, Gerry Moran, Pa Ruane, PJ Molloy, Martin Finnerty, Gerry Rohan and Sean Moran. We had our ups and downs for a few seasons after that, but eventually won our first major title in the ‘85/’86 season when we won Division 2 under the management of Ossie O Grady. Subsequently seasons went by, there were no trophies, no medals, but several broken legs, great matches, frothy pints and mighty craic!
Back in the ’80’s our sole adult men’s team, proudly togged out in green and white Shamrock Rovers-style hoops. Then came the phase we’re still talking about: the blue Yugoslavian national team jerseys complete with the country’s crest picked up for the princely sum of £1 each when Yugoslavia disbanded. Clearance sale? Call it what you like – but they were jerseys and we wore them with pride with ‘Burkes Bar’ splashed across the front of them! There’s one now framed in our clubhouse.
Those early years were full of character: sports days, donkey derbies and more than a few unfortunate lambs who ended up tangled in the goal nets because the lad assigned to lift them was often a bit too “thirsty” to remember. Many a young hogget awaited Frank Burke’s evening rescue mission. Still, the club soldiered on and once we piloted our underage structure in the mid ‘90’s Colemanstown United began to grow and grow. We have continuously fielded numerous teams in various age groups since.
There is little doubt however that the last 15 years have been our most successful to date not only on the field but as regards the provision of our facilities now consisting of: a fully drained grass playing pitch, full size floodlit Astro turf pitch, shower rooms, meeting rooms, fully equipped kitchen facility, 200 seater stadium, tarmac-ed fully lit accessible walking / running track incorporating 4 outdoor twin gym stations, children’s playground, sensory garden and safety perimeter fencing with the emergence now of something far bigger than just a soccer club. We are extremely thankful for valuable LEADER funding and Sports Capital Funding through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their welcome part funding which greatly assisted us along the way.
We are grateful to our hardworking Committee, who take on every task with enthusiasm and unwavering dedication. Their collective efforts continue to shape the club we are so proud to call ‘Colemanstown United’! Today, we are a vibrant community hub; a place that continues to evolve, flourish and bring people together in ways no one could have imagined back in those pound-a-pop blue Yugoslavian jersey days.
Keep yourself updated with club news stories and developments through our website and social media pages below.
CUFC Social Media
facebook.com/colemanstownutd
twitter.com/cufc1982
instagram.com/colemanstownunited
Achievements
2018: we were the first Galway club to be awarded the FAI Club Mark (Entry level) – an award based on best practice in the governance, management and administration of a football club.
2019: we were awarded the FAI Grassroots Club of the Year – an accolade we will treasure forever.
2019: we signed up to the CARA Disability Charter. Our facilities are open to all disability groups and we have invited many disability groups in our greater environs to use our facilities.
2020: we signed up to the 20×20 Charter in which we committed to supporting women and girls in sport in our area. This was driven by 20×20 Champions Zoe Kennedy, Laura Parker & Tara Roberts.
2021: we were the first club in Connacht and one of six in the country to be awarded the FAI (1star award) award.
2021: we opened our playground which has has quickly become a favourite spot for families.
2023: we opened our Sensory Garden, made possible through the generous support of Ms. Anne Rabbitte of the Department of Children, Equality & Disability,
2024: we completed our full size Astro turf pitch which had become for us a game-changer.
2025: we commissioned the floodlights on our Astro turf pitch which has given us great match scheduling flexibility.
2025: we renewed our Club Mark (1 Star award)
Our success story to date is largely due to the dedication, tireless work & commitment of our hard working committee, coaches, volunteers and supporters of the club. Colemanstown United has given a sense of identity and pride to the little hub of Colemanstown.
The Club thanks State Bodies – FÁS, The National Lottery, GRD, LEADER, Ballymacward Hall Committee and all our local sponsors who have helped us achieve our plans and ambitions to date. We thank all our supporters since the club’s foundation for their unfailing generosity and assistance given to us throughout our many fundraising events down through the years.
Based on initial community consultation we have developed our facilities in an environment that is welcoming and free for all to use. We now boast a facility for Everyone – male and female; young and not so young from all walks of life.
Club Roll of Honour
| Season | Titles / Honours Captured |
|---|---|
| 1985/86 | Division 2 Winners / Cup Runners-up |
| 1987/88 | Athenry 5-a-side Shield Winners |
| 1995/96 | 2B North Cup Runners-up |
| 1996/97 | 2B North Cup winners |
| 1997/98 | U-18 League Cup winners U-18 League Runners-up Div 2B League Winners League Cup Winners Ladies Div 1 League Winners |
| 2000/01 | Ladies Div1 League & Cup Double winners |
| 2001/02 | Ladies Premier League Cup winners |
| 2003/04 | Kiltulla 7-a-side Winners Div 1 League & Cup Winners |
| 2008/09 | Div 1 League Winners (A Team) |
| 2009/10 | Div 4 League Cup Winners (B Team) U-11 Div 1 League Winners / League Cup Runners-up |
| 2010/11 | U-12 Div 1 League Winners |
| 2011/12 | U-13 Div 2 League Winners U-15 Div 2 League Winners/League Cup Runners-up |
| 2013 | Ladies Div 1 League Winners/Ladies GFA Cup Runners-up |
| 2014 | Ladies League Cup winners |
| 2014/15 | Div1 League Winners (A Team) |
| 2016/17 | Ladies Premier league winners & Ladies league cup winners (Double champs) Thady Moran on Kennedy Cup Squad |
| 2018/19 | FAI Club Mark Entry Level Youth (U18) Div2 League winners U12 Div4 League Winners U13 Div 2 League winners U15 Div2 League winners RDFL Masters League champions 2019 FAI Club of the Year Ladies Cup Runners-Up Thomas Mellody Galway Utd U13’s Kellie Brennan – U17 Gaynor Cup winning team |
| 2019/20 Covid Interuption | U12 Girls Cup Runners-Up Jonah Donnellan Galway Utd U13s |
| 2020/21 Covid Interruption | U14 Div3 League Winners U15 Div 1 League Winners A Team League Runners Up (Promoted to Premier League) |
| 2021/22 | RDFL Men’s Masters Shield Winners U13 Div2 Cup Winners U15 Div 1 League Winners U16 Championship Winners U15 Div1 Cup Runners-Up U16 Championship Cup Runners-up U12 Girls Div1 Cup Runners-up |
| 2022/23 | U15 Girls Div1 League winners U15 Girls Div1 Cup winners U16 Boys Championship Winners |
| 2023/24 | U13 Girls Div 1 league winners |
| 2025 | RDFL Men’s Masters League winners. Over 35 GFA Ladies League winners |