Founded in 1982, the early years (1980’s & early 90’s) of Colemanstown United were full of character: an ordinary fenced off grass field ordinarily used for grazing on the farm of Frank & Bernie Burke & their family was used at weekends as a soccer pitch. On more than a few occasions, a few unfortunate grazing lambs ended up entangled in the goal nets because the lad assigned the job to lift them was often a bit too “thirsty” after the final whistle to remember. Still, the club soldiered on & once we piloted our underage structure in the mid ‘90’s Colemanstown United began to grow & grow. We knew a long term plan in terms of development would be required to sustain the club. But to be able to open oneself to be eligible to apply for government funding through grants etc one had to own their own grounds. So hence the story began….
Sometimes the biggest chapters in a club’s story begin with the smallest of gestures. And that’s exactly what happened in Colemanstown United. In the late 1990’s when then club secretary Gerry Moran & Frank Burke pushed a £1 coin back & forth across the bar counter at Burkes Bar, a simple £1 handshake sealed the deal for what would become the permanent home of Colemanstown United. That modest moment was full of goodwill & marked the beginning of the future of our club.
The piece of ground donated by Frank & Bernie Burke allowed Colemanstown United to put down roots. It enabled the club to apply for grant funding, to develop proper facilities & to grow the club into what we see today. What was once a simple piece of grazing land used as a playing pitch has now evolved into something far greater. It is now a place of sport & community & a facility for everyone to enjoy. That journey would not have been possible without the generosity of Frank & Bernie Burke & their family.
Founding club committees always believed that Frank & Bernie knew how much that piece of land meant to generations of players, volunteers & coaches. But as the club has moved a mile a minute over the past two decades in terms of development, the years slipped by faster than any of us realised & we never really paused to show our appreciation in a permanent way. That changed on Saturday 10th January 2026, when we proudly unveiled an appreciation plaque mounted at the entrance to the clubhouse; a lasting tribute to Frank & Bernie now etched into the heart of the club forevermore.
The unveiling was a fantastic & fitting celebration. We were delighted to welcome Frank & Bernie, along with their family – Catherine & Declan, Trisha & Ross, Thomas & Laura and Roisin & Finbar together with all the grandchildren & the large extended Burke family who joined us to mark this special occasion. It was an afternoon filled with warmth, gratitude & memories & we are truly thankful to every one for being part of it.
Preparing for the event itself was a real team effort, with club volunteers going above & beyond to prepare the clubhouse. The place never got such a spring clean in a while; windows & frames polished, wall tiles shined, light fittings replaced, decorations & bunting hand made, balloons blown until many were left winded! Some even travelled in icy conditions to collect helium balloons, while others dug through the archives & old albums to source photos from the club’s early days – thanks in particular to PJ Finnerty for helping locate those treasured photos. A huge thank you to everyone who provided food on the day. The tables were bursting with colour & variety & the spread was as generous as it was delicious. Special thanks to Orla Burke for stepping in at short notice to make the beautiful ‘Thank You’ cake which was as fabulous as always. Thanks also to James Barclay, who gave countless hours, at unsociable hours to produce the audio clip that so perfectly captures the spirit, atmosphere and magic of the club’s early days. It’s something really special & well worth a listen to & can be heard here.
Club Chairman Adrian Burke opened proceedings with a heartfelt speech, reflecting on the club’s humble beginnings on a farmer’s grazing field & the remarkable transformation that has unfolded in the years since. He spoke of how that modest patch of farmland has grown into a thriving sporting hub at the heart of the community – a place now alive with activity, ambition & belonging. He expressed the club’s deep gratitude to Frank & Bernie and their family, acknowledging that none of what we enjoy today would have been possible without their extraordinary kindness & generosity.
Following his address, the plaque was unveiled at the clubhouse door, after which everyone gathered inside for Frank & Bernie to cut the ‘Thank You’ cake. It was a lovely, relaxed opportunity to reminisce about the early days of the club, enjoy a cuppa & catch up with family members & friends. It was a very special day, not just for Frank & Bernie, but for the entire Colemanstown United community. The plaque now stands as a reminder of what can grow from trust, generosity & community spirit. On behalf of everyone connected with the club, past & present, we extend our deepest thanks to Frank & Bernie Burke & their family for making Colemanstown United what it is today.
