Athlone Town's Under-17 side take on their counterparts from Belvedere FC this Sunday, January 2nd in a friendly game in St. Mel's Park.

Kick-off is at 2pm.

Town Bound: John Flanagan.

STEPHEN KELLY has made another significant signing in his bid to get Athlone Town out of the First Division, agreeing terms with Drogheda United's John Flanagan.

A Cup winner with Dundalk FC in 2002, the 26-year-old started 21 games for Premier Division Drogheda last season at both centre midfield and right full.

Kelly sees his new signing as a major one, finally filling the hole in the centre of the park.

The Town boss is also in negotiations with another centre-forward, and any news on this development will be brought to you first by athlonetownfc.com.

Congratulations to the following Christmas Draw winners, and thank you to everyone who supported the draw:

• 1st Prize: Pat Reidy, Iona Grove
• 2nd Prize: Mick Doyle
• 3rd Prize: Giggs Green, c/o TK
• 4th Prize: Oisin O'Reilly, Kiltoom
• 5th Prize: Aidan Hegarty, 20 Orwell Grove

Athlone Town Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw details for Monday December 20th 2004 are as follows:

20/12/04 - Venue: Palace Bar
Numbers drawn were 1, 7, 14, 23

• Match 4 Winners [€10,650] - None.
• Match 3 Winners [€30 Each] - Brian Furley, Irene Joyce, J Dowling, Leah & Breda Lafferty, Larry McDonagh.
• Consolation Prize Winner [€100] - None.

There will be no Lotto Draw next Monday night, December 27th. The next draw will take place on Monday January 3rd in Potter's Bar for a jackpot of €10,800.

Former Kildare County netminder Danny O'Leary has signed on the dotted line.

ANOTHER piece of the jigsaw has fallen into place for next season, with Stephen Kelly securing the signature of experienced goalkeeper, Danny O'Leary.

The former Kildare County and Shelbourne player has a wealth of experience in the League, but is still only 25 years of age. He was regarded by many as the best 'keeper in the First Division last season, and his signing is a great coup for Stephen Kelly and Athlone Town.

Fighting Danny for the No.1 shirt next season will be another ex-Kildare County 'keeper, Tadhg Murphy. Murphy might best be remembered to Town fans as the 'keeper who saved a penalty against Shane Curran when Kildare first came into the League. Since then he has played with Kilkenny City and Bohemians, where he took over as Under-21 'keeper from Matt Gregg was called into the Gareth Farrelly's First Team last season. Similar to O'Leary, Tadhg has a huge amount of experience, despite his young age of 21.

Speaking about his new arrivals, manager Stephen Kelly told athlonetownfc.com, "Both players have a lot of experiece, and are good vocal keepers. They will both fight for a starting place, and will keep each other on their toes, which will only be good for the Club".

We welcome both players, plus our other new arrivals Andy Noonan, Gavin Doyle and Alan O'Connor to the Club.

Gavin Doyle, the third new signing of the winter break.

STEPHEN KELLY has brought his winter signings to three this afternoon, with news that he has signed Andy Noonan and Gavin Doyle.

Noonan joins Athlone from Dundalk, but was with Cobh Ramblers when they made the play-offs in 2002/03, and won promotion with Dublin City in 2003. Comfortable in both defence and midfield, he has been signed as a centre-half.

A team mate of Andy's at Dublin City during their promotion winning season was Gavin Doyle. The creative 26-year-old can play either left-side position or in the centre of midfield, and has an excellent delivery from set-pieces.

Manager Stephen Kelly has expressed himself happy with his new accquisitions, "Both players bring experience and determination to the squad. Both have won things before and are ambitious to do so again with Athlone Town," he told athlonetownfc.com. Kelly also confirmed that both Tom Silke and Steven Gavin have signed new deals to keep them at St. Mel's Park next season.

Athlone Town boss, Stephen Kelly, who is busy assembling his squad for next season.

The squad for next season is beginning to take shape and there should be a few new arrivals signed in the next few days. The squad will consist of sixteen to seventeen players with six or seven new faces.

Talks are at an advanced stage with two or three players but I can't give out names just yet, maybe early next week. I have arrangements to sign these players over the weekend. Suffice to say that these players will bring experience, ambition and a very strong desire to get promoted next season.

John McNicholas has been offered a deal by Longford Town on the say of Aaron Callaghan. This is a far better financial offer then I could even begin to compete with and John has accepted the offer. I take this opportunity to wish John all the best and I am very sorry to lose him. I hope the move works well for John but I feel it may have come a season or two to early for him.

Discussions with Adrian Murphy are on going and we will see how they progress. Alan O Connor is a very important signing as he will give us experience, goals, physical presence and a huge will to win. His style and passion will make him a huge favourite at St. Mels.

I will continue to talk with last years squad over the next week. My aim is to build a squad that will bring Athlone Town back to the premier division and the players involved in next years campaign will have the ambition and will to win that will match that of myself and Padraig Dully.

The rebuilding is going well and the vast majority of the squad will be signed before Christmas and the club web site will be where you'll hear it officially first.

Regards and Happy Christmas

Stephen Kelly

Athlone Town Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw details for Monday December 13th 2004 are as follows:

13/12/04 - Venue: Palace Bar
Numbers drawn were 2, 15, 19, 21

• Match 4 Winners [€10,500] - None.
• Match 3 Winners [€75 Each] - Gerry Fallon, Fergal Hegarty.
• Consolation Prize Winner [€100] - None.

The next draw takes place on Monday December 20th, once again in the Palace Bar for a jackpot of €10,750.

The 2004 Player of the Year Award will now not take place next Monday December 20th. However there will still be a number of Town events happening in the Palace Bar on the evening, so make sure to call in!

What do you get the man, or indeed woman who has everything? Why an Athlone Town Season Ticket of course! Tickets are on sale now for Christmas at the great value price of just €125, representing a saving of over 30%.

With the Christmas postal deadline looming, arrangements can be made to pick up your ticket from the Club Office on Magazine Road. Enquiries to 087 6984451, email info@athlonetownfc.com or see here.

This is the final week to enter Athlone Town's fabulous Christmas Draw. Up for grabs are:

1st Prize: 2 Tickets To Every Ireland Home International Game in 2005 [Includes Crucial World Cup Qualifiers]
2nd Prize: Trip For 2 To Old Trafford [Flights, Accom. and Match Tickets Included]
3rd Prize: Christmas Hamper [Sponsored by Croughan's SuperValu Athlone]
4th Prize: TV & DVD Player Combo
5th Prize: DVD Player

Tickets cost just €10 and are available from any committee member, or by clicking here. The draw takes place on Monday night December 20th at the Player of the Year Night.

McGee Magic Makes Sure Of The Points

ATHLONE TOWN Under-17's played host to Bray side Wolfe Tone FC on Sunday afternoon in the Major Division of the DDSL Under-17 League.

A great attacking display from strikers David Donohue and Noel McGee, supported by wingers Kevin Duffy and Brian Cleary ensured that Athlone were to win the game 5 - 0. Town opened the scoring just six minutes in. Some good work from Cleary on the left wing saw him cross to Duffy who made no mistake from close range. Centre half Brian McCarthy tried his luck from the edge of the box three minutes later, but his effort was just off target.

Dave Donohue had a close range header saved, from a McGee cross on 12 minutes, before a last ditch tackle denied the snappy forward three minutes later.

Athlone Town Chairman Paddy McCaul, seen here making a presentation to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been elected interim Chairman of the eircom League.

At this evening's (Dec 9th) eircom League Special General Meeting, Paddy McCaul of Athlone Town was unanimously (17 votes) elected as interim Chairman of the eircom League.

He will hold the position until the League AGM which will be held in Cork on February 5th 2005.

Paddy McCaul was the sole candidate and was nominated by Kilkenny City and Sligo Rovers and was proposed at the meeting by Finn Harps and seconded by Kilkenny City.

Meanwhile, at this evening's (Dec 9th) Special Management Information Meeting, the following was agreed:

Season 2005 Start Date:
It was agreed that the eircom League 2005 season will commence on the weekend ending Sunday, March 20th 2005. The last series of fixtures will take place on the weekend ending Sunday, November 20th. There will be no mid-season break.

Promotion/Relegation:
It was agreed that the club finishing bottom of the Premier Division will be automatically relegated and the team finishing top of the First Division will be automatically promoted. There will also be the possibility of a second club being promoted from the First Division via a play-off involving the eleventh-placed Premier Division club and the second-placed First Division club. This play-off will be a two-legged tie.

Premier Division Structure:
It was agreed that the Premier Division (12 clubs) will be a three-round (33 League dates) league for the 2005 season. With three (3) FAI Cup dates this will result in a total of 36 dates (36 weekends) to accommodate same. No scheduled midweek League dates will be required.

First Division Structure:
It was also agreed that the First Division (10 clubs) will be a four-round (36 League dates) league for the 2005 season. With three FAI Cup dates this will result in a total of 39 dates. With 36 weekends available, three (3) scheduled midweek League dates are required.

eircom League Cup Format:
It was agreed that as the two-year cycle of the eight three-club groups followed by the knock-out stages is now complete and given the introduction of the Setanta Cup, the following format for the 2005 season League Cup competition will be put in place:

The competition will be played on a knock-out basis from start to finish with the Kerry League and Mayo League again receiving invitations to compete. The First Round will comprise 8 matches and 8 byes.

The four clubs in European competition will receive byes due to their heavier fixture programme. The remaining 20 clubs will be divided into two pools of 10 clubs each on a geographical basis with four ties being drawn from each pool and with the remaining two clubs in each pool receiving a bye. Thereafter, the competition would continue on open draw knock-out basis.

Transfer Windows:
It was agreed that the first eircom League Transfer window will commence on Friday, January 7th 2005 and close on Friday, March 4th 2005. The second transfer window will run for the calendar month of July 2005.

Athlone Town's Player of the Year will be presented with his award on Monday December 20th, at a presentation in the Palace Bar. Make sure you are there on the night, to see who wins!

After recording an impressive 4 - 0 win away to Dundalk FC on Sunday afternoon, the Under-17's are back at home this weekend. They take on Wolfe Tone FC in St Mel's Park on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is at 2pm, and your support would be greatly appreciated.

Athlone Town Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw details for Monday December 6th 2004 are as follows:

06/12/04 - Venue: Sean's Bar
Numbers drawn were 4, 5, 14, 15

• Match 4 Winners [€10,350] - None.
• Match 3 Winners [€40 Each] - M Aherne, Adam Guinan, John McCrish, Paddy Redmond.
• Consolation Prize Winner [€100] - None.

Next week's draw takes place on Monday December 13th in the Palace Bar for a jackpot of €10,500.

The Lotto is crucial to the Club, particularly during the close season. If you would like to start selling Lotto for the Club, please contact Liam Gaffey on 087 1213147 or email info@athlonetownfc.com.

You now have the option to enter the Christmas Draw online, by paying through PayPal.com or MoneyBookers.com. See here for more.

BEALNAMULLA overcame Portlaoise in the first match of the second round of the Midland Senior League. Bealnamulla finished third in the League last year and in this determined display showed that they are very well up for this year's campaign.

Bealnamulla got the worst possible start when a Portlaoise free after four minutes ended up in the net after a deflection off a Bealnamulla defender. This was just a temporary set back and Bealnamulla were level when a great throught ball from Aisling Brophy found Geraldine Griffith and she chipped a beauty to the corner of the net over an advancing keeper.

Jimmy Greene's Under-17 side are away to Dundalk FC this Sunday afternoon in the Major Division of the DDSL Under-17 League. Currently sitting top of the table, Town beat Dundalk 2 - 1 when the sides met in Athlone earlier in the season.

Athlone Town Supporters Weekly Lotto Draw details for Monday November 29th 2004 are as follows:

29/11/04 - Venue: Higgins' Pub
Numbers drawn were 7, 9, 11, 13

• Match 4 Winners [€10,200] - None.
• Match 3 Winners [€20 Each] - Martin Coleman, Gary Morgan, Jim Scully, Liam McManus, Keith Breen, Mr A Ryan, Leo Bracken, Mary Keary, Dolores Malone.
• Consolation Prize Winner [€100] - None.

Next week's draw takes place on Monday December 6th in Sean's Bar for a jackpot of €10,350.

The Lotto is crucial to the Club, particularly during the close season. If you would like to start selling Lotto for the Club, please contact Liam Gaffey on 087 1213147 or email info@athlonetownfc.com.

ATHLONE TOWN Under-17's were knocked out of the SFAI Under-17 Cup on Sunday afternoon last by a strong St. Kevin's Boys Premier Division side.

In a quiet opening 20 minutes, the best chance fell to Town's Noel McGee after two minutes, but he shot just wide.

St. Kevin's looked dangerous on the break, and on 27 minutes laid the ball out to their left winger. His cross was met at the back post for the opening goal of the game.