Clonakilty Chairman Of Rugby Named Ballyseedy Volunteer Of The Month

The Ballyseedy Volunteer of the Month for December was awarded to Neville Burton of Clonakilty RFC for his hard work and dedication throughout 2020.

Neville is the Chairman of Rugby at Clonakilty and he oversees the club’s Adult Rugby, Youth Rugby and Minis Rugby programmes. In addition to these responsibilities, Nev is the head coach of the club’s U16 boys and assistant coach with the U14 girls.

Neville was involved in a number of initiatives throughout 2020. At the beginning of the year when the first lockdown was implemented nationwide, Neville recorded a series of videos encouraging members and their families to support the club’s sponsors. This involved members of the club passing a rugby ball to each other outside different businesses in the town.

With no rugby activity during the summer months, Neville organised a massive clean-up at the club which involved various groups and teams being set up to undertake activities such as power washing the changing rooms and clubhouse, painting doors, mending fences and installing safety barriers.

At the beginning of the year, before lockdown, Nev assisted in organising a match between the West Cork Jesters Mixed Ability rugby team and the Clonakilty Veterans at the club. This was followed up by a series of games between the two aforementioned teams and the Sundays Well Rebels, another Mixed Ability team.

Nev also plays a role in the various inclusivity initiatives at the club which include reaching out to children from the local Direct Provision Centre and those in the LGBT and Traveller communities.

Nev also produces a popular weekly video series, “The Clonakilty Weekly Wrap”, which provides a run-down of all the activities that have taken place at the club in the previous week.

Speaking on receiving his award, a humbled Neville said:

“Delighted. But a little bit embarrassed and quite humbled by it. I was completely caught off guard by it. It’s a lovely gesture and I’m very moved by it but slightly embarrassed because so many are putting in such a big shift in Clon RFC and we’ve been working hard on structures and working hard on everything that we’re doing.

“As a club, it’s nice to be recognised for what we’re doing. In terms of reaction, delighted but slightly embarrassed and very humbled by it.”

From left to right; Kate Burton, Neville Burton, Jack Burton and Sinead Burton

Clonakilty RFC committee member Maurice Downey nominated Neville for this award and said that he is involved in almost everything at the club.

“He’s hugely involved. When he got involved, he was hugely conscious about what’s going on in all areas of the club as in boys and girls rugby but he’s involved with pitches, he’s involved with things like the PR, fundraising, the social aspects. We did a clean-up and he drove that. He’s involved in almost everything that’s going on at the club, he’s really integrated and gone in there.

“His energy and enthusiasm are infectious. You can see it with him, he just drives on with the stuff. He’s an energy giver and you can see that he’s just stuck at everything. It’s all aspects of the club that he’s very conscious of. He’s not just a first-team or he’s not just minis or he’s not just girls – he’s very conscious from a rugby point of view of what we’re trying to achieve.”

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The Ballyseedy Volunteer Recognition Programme rewards people working hard behind the scenes within clubs and schools throughout the province.

This season’s programme runs from December 2020 to March 2021 with a reward scheme consisting of individual ‘Volunteer of the Month’ awards.

Successful nominees who meet a set criteria were recognised for their efforts by receiving a prize package including;

– ‘Volunteer of the Month’ Award

– Ballyseedy Gift Hamper

– One4All voucher

For more information and to nominate your club or school volunteer, click here.