​Heather Payne Continues to Inspire

Former Ballinasloe Town A. F. C. player Heather Payne received the ultimate accolade in Irish Soccer when she was chosen as the P. F. A. Irish International Senior Ladies Soccer Player of the Year for her consistently outstanding performances for the International Team.

Within a few days of picking up the very prestigious award at the end of the year, Heather was starring for Florida State University as they claimed the U. S. A. Colleges N. C. A. A. Women's National Championship title after a dramatic game which was decided on a penalty shootout on a 4-3 score line against BYU in Santa Clare in California.

The game had finished 0-0 after extra time and Heather duly stepped up and scored her penalty kick to help secure the U. S. A. National Title for Florida State University.

 Club Development Co-ordinator Johnny Walsh stated, “Everyone associated with Ballinasloe Town A. F. C are extremely proud of Heather and wish her all the very best for the coming year and indeed are looking forward to Heather joining us in a training session when next back home.”

There was further success for the club with three youth players Fionn Duffy, Adam Lloyd, and Adam McLoughlin who represented the under 12 Galway League Squad in Limerick in an interleague representative game in early January.

The club’s committee were delighted to receive financial support with a sum of €2,000 being awarded from the local Credit Union’s Social Fund. The funds will go towards the next phase of the club’s development works.

After the Christmas break activities have now resumed with the youth soccer academy having returned on Wednesday  since mid January and all other youths and adult training sessions now back in action again at the Curragh Grounds.

The senior team’s high-profile game in the F. A. I. Junior Cup 5th Round versus Ballyheane has been rescheduled for February 13.

Adam Lloyd

Adam McLoughlin and Fionn Duffy