Kildare kicks off 31st KDFL season with full FAI app integration

FAI Connect is a best-in-class Football Management System that uses transformation digital technology to better serve our coaches, administrators, fans, players, referees and volunteers.

The KDFL became the fifth Junior League in Leinster to embrace the competition segment of the management system and it has proved a huge success in it’s inaugural week. As we are now experiencing for the first real time updates across all sections of the League including team lineups, goal scorers, times, assists, substitutions and sanctions and full time results. 

In the background the League Executive will administer the disciplinary function where they can analysis data including an overview of sanctions. League Secretary Regina Casey said the League were very excited to launch the competitions’ function of Comet this season.

"We have been using this system and it’s predecessor FAINet for the past five years for player registrations so it was a natural progression for us.  We have worked hard over the last number of months with our Clubs and match officials to bring it to fruition. Following workshops in February and March, clubs embraced app from day one. As the league progresses, we hope to see more engagement across our socials, as for the first time we are bringing real time updates to the wider community.  This will also benefit our affiliates in terms of further media exposure which will help with sponsorship and support in return."

Casey added said we are grateful for the support our clubs and match officials have shown for this initiative and also acknowledges with thanks the support of John Moran, John Morgan, Alan Patchell (FAI Connect Department), Justin Burke and Vance McGlinchy (NEFL) for their support shown to the KDFL Executive over the last number of months. A special word of thanks also to the League’s FAI Connect super user Hollie Casey who has been on hand day and night over the past number of weeks supporting the clubs as they navigate the system in preparation for it’s launch this weekend. 

Affiliation has increased on 2024 with the League adding a fifth Junior Division to the mix. Total affiliation is set to exceed 80 teams when the Under 20s kick off in September. This will see the league surpass 80 team mark for the first time since 2014. 

The Senior Division welcomed newly promoted Moone Celtic and Newbridge United. The Premier Division welcomes newcomers to the League Corban’s Celtic and Madiva FC, they will be joined in the Premier by newly promoted Suncroft AFC and St Anthonys Youths FC. 

Division 1 have newcomers in Newbridge Rovers FC and Caragh Celtic both promoted from Div 2 and relegated Kilcullen AFC. In Division 2 Castle Villa AFC are the only newcomer having been relegated from Div 1 last Season. The newly formed Division 3 has no less than six new teams from existing clubs, Newbridge Rovers FC, Straffan AFC, St Anthonys Youths, Rathangan AFC, Coill Dubh AFC and new entrants Dunlavin AFC. 

The Masters and Womens sections will kick off in the coming weeks. The League have committed to an education and training programme over the coming months which will include Health and Wellbeing, In her boots programme, Sports Specific first Aid (Partly subsidised by the League), among others, full details will be listed shortly. All details will be advertised across all social platforms. 

Full report in this week's Leinster Leader.

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