EA Sports
FAI Schools 5-A-Side
The biggest and best competition in the 2008
Primary School Soccer Calendar
Over 18,000 children from every county in Ireland will compete in the most fun filled event of 2008. The EA Sports FAI Schools 5-A-Side is the biggest competition to take place in the 2008 primary school soccer calendar. The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with a record 1,100 schools currently involved. The games kicked off in March and April, with Provincial and National Finals taking place this May. The winners from each county will go forward to their Provincial Finals and then will battle it out at the National Finals.
There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes. While the FAI and EA Sports encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools. A number of teams can represent one school depending on the size of their student body, giving more children the chance to develop their skills in a safe, child centered and exciting environment.
FAI Schools are delighted to announce that EA Sports are the new title sponsors of the competition for 2008. Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools stated, “The numbers participating in this competition are phenomenal with the standard of football improving each year. We are excited about our new partnership with EA Sports, who are an ideal sponsor for this competition and we look forward to working with them to increase the profile and image of primary school football going forward”.
Craig Auld, Marketing Manager - Ireland for EA commented, “EA is proud to join up with FAI Schools, to support their efforts to involve more primary school children in football. As the world’s leading developer of interactive sports entertainment, with games such as Euro 2008 and the eagerly anticipated FIFA 09, we are delighted to be teaming up with FAI Schools to further nurture and develop grassroots football in Ireland.”
The growth of football across the country can be attributed to the FAI’s Regional Development Officers, who have been vital in increasing the number of schools playing the sport, and to the dedication of local organisers who volunteer to run competitions in a professional and meticulous manner. There are county and regional finals currently taking place around the country; click on www.faischools, www.faischoolsmeath.com or www.faischoolsdublin.com for further information.
Don’t miss your opportunity to support the schools involved by attending the Provincial and National Finals. Park Rangers FC in Shannon play host to the Munster Final on May 14th while the Connacht Finals are also scheduled for the same date in the magnificent Salthill Devon Grounds in Drom, Galway. The following week sees the Ulster Final in Cockhill Sports Fields, Buncrana and the Leinster Final will be held in the accommodating MDL Grounds in Navan, both on May 21st. The competition reaches its finale with the National Finals taking place in the impressive Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on May 28th.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
For EA Sports:
Aoife Murtagh/Sarah Gallagher
O’Leary PR
Tel: 01-6789888
Email: aoifemurtagh@olearypr.ie
For FAI Schools:
Diane Fay
National Administrative Officer
Tel: 086-0404952
Email: diane.fay@fai.ie
Notes To Editors:
EA Sports FAI Schools Five A Side Fixtures
Event Date Venue
Munster Finals Wednesday 14th May Park Rangers FC, Shannon, Co. Clare
Connacht Finals Wednesday 14th May Salthill Devon Grounds, Drom, Galway
Ulster Finals Wednesday 21st May Cockhill Sports Fields, Buncrana, Donegal Leinster Finals Wednesday 21st May MDL Grounds, Navan, Meath
National Finals Wednesday 28th May Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore, Offaly
About EA
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA Sports™, EA™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA Ireland’s homepage and online game site is www.electroniccarts.ie. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on this website.
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