St. John's Volunteers GAA Club 1893 - 2016
St. John’s Volunteers were first affiliated to the GAA in 1893. The Club is one of the most successful Football Clubs in the County while the first hurling title ever won by a Town team was when the Vols won the Junior Championship of 1911. The first Senior Football Championship was won in 1895 when defeating the All-Ireland champions of 1893, Young Irelands.
Much success followed in these early years, but the golden era for the Club was from 1939 to 1943 when the Club won five football titles in a row. This period had begun when a talented Minor team won the 1935 Minor title captained by former Tánaiste and great clubman, Brendan Corish.
In 1945, Wexford won a Leinster football title backboned by Vols greats, Willie Goodison, John O’Connor, John Morris and Timmy O’Leary. In the same year the Club hurling team won the District Final before being defeated in the County Final.
Further Senior football titles followed in 1948, 1949, 1953 and 1956. This was to be the last County Senior victory and a lean period ensued for a number of years. However, a major revival of the underage section in the 1970’s led to some underage success and culminated in an Intermediate triumph in 1983, in the year of the 90th anniversary of the Club.
At underage level, the Under 14 County Football Championship win in 1994 was to be the first major win in many years. The Under 16 team also went on to become County Football champions in the same year.
In 1997, the Club won the Under 21 County Football Championship. The next major win was the County Junior ‘B’ Championship in 2006 followed by the County Junior Football Championship in 2008. Also in 2008, the Club were successful in becoming District Hurling Champions who went on to be defeated in the County Final in the same year. At the AGM in 2015, having achieved a record 5th Junior Football Title the Club decided to focus solely on football and its hurling teams were discontinued.
The Club has continued to enjoy success at underage level, with the Under 14s winning the County Football Championship in 2009 and 2010. In 2015 the U-14 footballers were defeated in the County Final but achieved a National Feilé title.
On the playing fields, the Club is currently playing Intermediate and Junior football (2016). At underage, the Club is growing rapidly in numbers due to the tireless work of the Juvenile section. In 2011, the Under 16 football team won the Juvenile Championship and the Under 14 football team reached the County Final for the third consecutive year.
In 2006, St. John's Volunteers affiliated to ladies Gaelic Football. Up to then any girl who had any interest in playing Gaelic football had to play with the boys (up to under 14) and after that they either joined another club that was affiliated to Ladies Football or, unfortunately, gave up the sport. This policy resulted in a loss to both the Club and the sport.
This wasn't the first time the Club had entered a team in Ladies Football. Over the years, we had competed at adult level but, because the underage structure was not in place, the team, through lack of numbers, fizzled out.
So, in 2006, the Club entered a ladies team at U12 level. It was the first year entering an underage team into Ladies Football and the first time competing in an U12 Ladies Football Final in Wexford Park. Since then, the teams have gone from strength to strength, competing in County Semi Finals or Finals every year. We as a Club have also contributed to the success of the Wexford County teams, with some of our girls representing the Club at county level.
In 2011, teams were entered at U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor and Adult level. It was the first year the Club could boast of competing at all levels in Ladies Football. It was also the year when we brought back to the Club the first ever County Ladies Football title, with our U12 team winning their Division Final in Wexford Park.
Success is not all about winning, success is about providing a Club that can offer an environment for playing Ladies Football that is both fun and competitive with a proper coaching structure and coaches in place. St. John’s Volunteers have been to the forefront in achieving it’s goals in this area. It is a credit to all those involved in the development of this section of the Club to see that from an U12 team we have achieved so much and all the hard work and effort has come to fruition.
With so much done and so much more to do, the Club can look forward to the next 5 years at promoting and providing the facilities for girls and women to play Ladies Football in Wexford town.
Much success followed in these early years, but the golden era for the Club was from 1939 to 1943 when the Club won five football titles in a row. This period had begun when a talented Minor team won the 1935 Minor title captained by former Tánaiste and great clubman, Brendan Corish.
In 1945, Wexford won a Leinster football title backboned by Vols greats, Willie Goodison, John O’Connor, John Morris and Timmy O’Leary. In the same year the Club hurling team won the District Final before being defeated in the County Final.
Further Senior football titles followed in 1948, 1949, 1953 and 1956. This was to be the last County Senior victory and a lean period ensued for a number of years. However, a major revival of the underage section in the 1970’s led to some underage success and culminated in an Intermediate triumph in 1983, in the year of the 90th anniversary of the Club.
At underage level, the Under 14 County Football Championship win in 1994 was to be the first major win in many years. The Under 16 team also went on to become County Football champions in the same year.
In 1997, the Club won the Under 21 County Football Championship. The next major win was the County Junior ‘B’ Championship in 2006 followed by the County Junior Football Championship in 2008. Also in 2008, the Club were successful in becoming District Hurling Champions who went on to be defeated in the County Final in the same year. At the AGM in 2015, having achieved a record 5th Junior Football Title the Club decided to focus solely on football and its hurling teams were discontinued.
The Club has continued to enjoy success at underage level, with the Under 14s winning the County Football Championship in 2009 and 2010. In 2015 the U-14 footballers were defeated in the County Final but achieved a National Feilé title.
On the playing fields, the Club is currently playing Intermediate and Junior football (2016). At underage, the Club is growing rapidly in numbers due to the tireless work of the Juvenile section. In 2011, the Under 16 football team won the Juvenile Championship and the Under 14 football team reached the County Final for the third consecutive year.
In 2006, St. John's Volunteers affiliated to ladies Gaelic Football. Up to then any girl who had any interest in playing Gaelic football had to play with the boys (up to under 14) and after that they either joined another club that was affiliated to Ladies Football or, unfortunately, gave up the sport. This policy resulted in a loss to both the Club and the sport.
This wasn't the first time the Club had entered a team in Ladies Football. Over the years, we had competed at adult level but, because the underage structure was not in place, the team, through lack of numbers, fizzled out.
So, in 2006, the Club entered a ladies team at U12 level. It was the first year entering an underage team into Ladies Football and the first time competing in an U12 Ladies Football Final in Wexford Park. Since then, the teams have gone from strength to strength, competing in County Semi Finals or Finals every year. We as a Club have also contributed to the success of the Wexford County teams, with some of our girls representing the Club at county level.
In 2011, teams were entered at U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor and Adult level. It was the first year the Club could boast of competing at all levels in Ladies Football. It was also the year when we brought back to the Club the first ever County Ladies Football title, with our U12 team winning their Division Final in Wexford Park.
Success is not all about winning, success is about providing a Club that can offer an environment for playing Ladies Football that is both fun and competitive with a proper coaching structure and coaches in place. St. John’s Volunteers have been to the forefront in achieving it’s goals in this area. It is a credit to all those involved in the development of this section of the Club to see that from an U12 team we have achieved so much and all the hard work and effort has come to fruition.
With so much done and so much more to do, the Club can look forward to the next 5 years at promoting and providing the facilities for girls and women to play Ladies Football in Wexford town.
