Former St. Joseph’s student sponsors new football kit for school team

CAPTION:- Pictured above are former St. Joseph's Boys School student Mark McLaughlin, director, SmartpayNI, presenting a soccer kit for the Year 8 team to Mr. Emmet McGinty, Sports Teacher. Included is this year's school team. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Former St. Joseph’s Boys School student Mark McLaughlin, director at SmartpayNI, turned up trumps at the school this week with some urgently-needed new kit for the school’s Year 8 football team.

Mark visited the school this week to hand over the kit and said: ‘To be able to give back to my former school is a privilege. It’s a fantastic school where I had seven very enjoyable years and I will be forever grateful for the educational and sporting opportunities it provided me while at the school.’

Contact was made by teacher Mr. Kevin Thompson, at the start of September and along with Mark, they both worked on the design of the new kit.

‘Hopefully it will bring the school team luck this year and they can go on to lift some silverware.’

St. Joseph’s Boys School PE teacher and team manager Emmett McGinty paid tribute to the former pupil, thanking Mark for the ‘wonderful contribution’ to the school.

Mr. McGinty added: ‘It’s great to get a new kit and even better when it is through a local business and a former pupil. A big thank you to Mark and all at SmartpayNI for their contribution.

Looking forward to the new year and more success on the football field, he said: ‘Our Year 8 boys now have a fantastic new kit going into a new season of football and we look forward to bringing continued sporting success to St. Joseph’s.’

Team captain Kian Gibbons also thanked the businessman for the new kit, adding ‘We all love the new kit and thank Mr. McLaughlin for sponsoring the school team.