OVERVIEW
The following is a review of GPA activity in 2008. The year was an extremely busy one for the players' association with delivery on a number of key projects, in particular the inaugural distribution of Government Funding to inter-county players. This has been the most significant delivery to date and one which we believe provides a platform for the future of inter-county player welfare. The year also marked the establishment of our Hurling Twinning Programme, an expansion in our Fair Play Awards and the appointment of National Development Officer, Dara McGarty, whose key responsibility is to liaise with squads on an on-going basis.
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GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Following the November 2007 agreement between the GPA, GAA and the Government to fund inter-county players, a National Scheme Committee was formed between the GPA and Croke Park in May 2008 after a period of initial discussions. This committee was charged with administering the returns of vouched expenses for every championship panelist in the country. GPA National Development Officer Dara McGarty and GPA CEO Dessie Farrell were appointed to work with the committee.
The GPA liaised with every squad on a continual basis throughout the summer to ensure that due process was followed and was on hand to provide information on a daily basis. Despite the scale of this operation, and the fact that it was conducted in two jurisdictions, there were relatively few difficulties with the process and the funding was distributed to players by December.
Having established the scheme in 2008, we expect that the template developed by the National Scheme Committee is now in place and will ensure an even more efficient delivery in 2009. Every squad GPA representative has been briefed in detail about the process of returning vouched expenses and is aware of the scheme's structures and requirements.
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TALKS
Talks with Croke Park on official recognition for the GPA recommenced at the end of 2008. Due to the significance of the talks and the future implications for the players' body, a great deal of research and preparatory work was carried out by the GPA prior to the recommencement of the talks. The negotiations are on-going and, by agreement, no comment will be made until they have concluded.
CROKE PARK COMMITTEES
GPA National Development Officer Dara McGarty is representing the GPA on Croke Park's Player/County Board Relationship Taskforce.
CEO Dessie Farrell is representing the GPA on Croke Park's Amateur Status Review Committee.
National Exec Committee member Thomas Colton represents the GPA on the GAA's 125 Birthday Celebration Committee.
CEO Dessie Farrell continues his role as players' representative in Central Council.
GOVERNANCE
A governance and organisational review of the GPA commenced in 2008 and is ongoing. This review covers both internal and external structures.
A performance management structure was introduced for staff. The GPA currently employs three full-time staff members and engages a number of consultants on a regular basis. The staff reports to the GPA National Executive Committee via the CEO or by invitation to NEC meetings. The NEC meets on a quarterly basis.
The NEC is chaired by Dónal Óg Cusack. Secretary Kieran McGeeney stepped down in 2008 and was replaced by Seán Cavanagh who was elected at our AGM in November.
A new database was introduced in 2008 and our IT systems were also upgraded.
HURLING TWINNING PROGRAMME
The Halifax sponsored GPA Hurling Twinning Programme was introduced with great success in 2008 and saw a huge uptake from players from stronger and weaker counties. The programme paired Rackard Cup hurling squads with McCarthy Cup counties. The purpose of the programme was to leverage the profile of the country's top hurlers to promote the game in the non-traditional counties.
In total 16 counties participated in the programme and we are grateful to all those individuals who contributed.
Given the success of the scheme and the positive response by the hurling community, we aim to expand it in 2009 to develop the established partnerships further.
The Halifax Hurling Twinning programme will be re-launched shortly.
FAIR PLAY AWARDS
Halifax generously doubled their fund for the Fair Play awards in 2008 to a most impressive €30,000 to include a football and hurling winner. The awards were presented to Clare hurler and charity activist Tony Griffin, and Fermanagh footballer Marty McGrath, whose courage in the face of adversity last year was inspirational. Both players received €15,000 towards their mortgage repayments.
The Halifax GPA Fair Play Award scheme rewards players who have set an example as role models through their positive behaviour and attitude both on and off the pitch.
Winners are selected by an expert GAA panel including Cathal O'Torna, GPA National Secretary, former Cork hurling manager Donal O'Grady, GAA statistician Gerry McDermott, Kerry manager Jack O'Connor, referee Pat McEnaney, journalists Kevin Nolan and Tom Humphries along with the GPA's Dessie Farrell.
In addition to the extended Fair Play Awards for players, Halifax and the GPA also launched another awards programme which acknowledges the contribution of individuals to their clubs. Details of the winner of this new award will be announced later this month.
PLAYER AWARDS
Our Opel Gaelic Players monthly awards and annual Opel Team of the Year and Players of the Year awards were an outstanding success in 2008 generating substantial interest. With Opel's significant on-going support for players our awards schemes have secured a dominant position on the GAA calendar. Following the publication of our nominations by our selection committees, we received our best response to date from our membership during the voting process. The GPA Gala Night featuring the awards ceremony was featured on RTE's OB programme. Awards were also presented to players of the year in the Murphy, Ring and Rackard Cups. Over 1200 players and guests attended the Gala Night in November 08.
ENERGISE GPA SCHOLARSHIPS
Energise funded 56 GPA third-level scholarships in March 2008, making it the largest GPA scholarship programme since our inception. To date the GPA has delivered 183 scholarships since the programme commenced in 2001.
GPA BENEVOLENT FUND
A number of payments were made to individuals from the GPA Benevolent Fund during 2008. This fund is established to assist current and past players in a time of need for those individuals.
MEDICAL
In 2008, the GPA developed a partnership with the Sports Surgery Clinic, a state-of-the-art, sports medical facility in Santry, Dublin, which is the brainchild of orthopaedic consultant Mr. Ray Moran.
This centre will serve players well over the coming years. Many players still have difficulty in accessing top quality treatment without undue delay. In SSC players can arrive to an A&E type situation which is completely sports specific without queuing for hours on end and receive the full complement of services while there i.e. assessment, scan/x-ray, diagnosis and treatment/rehab plan all in the one visit. Surgery can also be scheduled within the facility at short notice.
We hope to develop our relationship and awareness of this centre through our website, seminars and so on.
AUSSIE RULES
The GPA met with Ricky Nixon (Agent), Club officials from Aussie Rules Clubs Brisbane and Richmond and AFL scout Joe Begley, brother of Colm, while the group was in Dublin. The recruitment plans of AFL clubs were outlined to the GPA
The Australian delegation was forthcoming with information and hoped to streamline the process of recruitment in Ireland so that there was a higher success rate in the transition of those players identified from one game to the other.
The GPA is looking into the possibility of developing a role to extend the Aussie Rules ‘exit programme' for players returning to Ireland. This is a major welfare issue for young players cast adrift from the structures of professional sport.
ANTI-DOPING
The issue of anti-doping became a burning one in 2008 and a deep level of unease has manifested itself among the playing body, particularly over the implications of a positive result.
Throughout 2008, the GPA communicated constantly with its members to promote the anti-doping code and has taken every opportunity to highlight both the importance of the code and where the necessary information can be found.
We made particular reference to the Therapeutic Use Exemption forms and the importance of communication with the squad doctor.
We will continue that educational policy to protect our members.
PFA & AFLPA
A delegation from the leading players' representative bodies in Ireland, GPA,
PFAI and the IRUPA, visited the Professional Footballers Association in Manchester in August 2008. It proved to be a worthwhile exercise and once again opened beneficial channels of communication where their experience can be called on from time to time as well as providing an insight into day-to-day operations. We have also developed close ties with the AFLPA (Australian Football League Players Association) and continue to liaise with them on a range of issues.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
ENERGISE
As well as the Energise Scholarship programme, a number of initiatives were carried out during 2008. A new Energise Sport television ad featuring players was unveiled during the summer along with an extensive billboard campaign.
Conscious of the competitive environment in which the GPA's principal sponsor is operating, the GPA made a concerted effort during the year to ensure maximum support for Energise Sport from its members and the GAA public. To this end there were a number of high profile players, including Armagh's Steven McDonnell, who rejected lucrative offers from rival brands to support the players' product.
As we are now living through a deepening recession, the GPA will be campaigning with renewed vigour in 2009 to support Energise Sport, the only Irish produced product currently competing in the Irish Sports drinks market.
OPEL
Opel Gaelic Players Awards
Opel's hugely generous support of our player awards has driven the rapid growth of the schemes. With such a prominent position now secured on the GAA calendar, Opel have secured the status of a significant supporter of Gaelic players and Gaelic Games. We aim to continue to strengthen our relationship with Opel in '09.
Opel Kit for Clubs
The Opel 'Kit for Clubs' scheme was very successful in 2008 with substantial uptake from clubs. Opel have expanded the offer recently and hope to continue to grow the scheme in 2009.
Opel Affinity Scheme
Through this scheme, GPA members and family members are entitled to substantial reductions on car purchases.
HALIFAX
Halifax expanded their commitment to players in 2008 by funding the Hurling Twinning Programme and doubling the prize money for the Fair Play Awards.
Halifax Gaelic Performance Camps
Along with the Twinning and Fair Play progammes, Halifax also sponsor two Gaelic Performances (Dermot McArdle) residential camps went ahead this summer with Halifax brand ambassadors available to coach in both Gormanstown and St. Pat's, Drumcondra on separate weeks. Both were very successful.
It is hoped to conduct a hurling camp in 2009.
PLATINUM ONE
In 2008, the GPA entered into an arrangement with leading Sports Marketing Agency, Platinum One, whose brief is to extend the GPA's commercial portfolio.
CHARITIES
Clare hurler and charity activist Tony Griffin has agreed to assist this area of GPA activity having already developed significant experience to date with his own projects.
Tony, like the GPA, has particular interest in promoting positive mental health for our own members and using our high profile players to communicate a message to a wider audience.
In this regard the GPA has had numerous meetings with the HSE to discuss a future campaign.
The GPA assisted the charity ‘Suas' in 2008 by providing hurling equipment to volunteers in India working with underprivileged children. A week long hurling summer camp was run after local children, who are huge hockey and cricket fans, expressed an interest in the game having seen Irish volunteers pucking around..
We will again be engaging with the Alan Kerins foundation in 2009. Our chairman Dónal Óg Cusack travelled to Zambia before Christmas along with a number of players to assist the foundation's work in that region.
STAFF TRAINING
All GPA staff and a number of committee members underwent training in 2008. This included IT training, training on our new database system, software updates and communications training.
National Development Officer
The main duties of National Development Officer (NDO) over this period were increasing membership, visiting squads, implementing the twinning programme and informing players on how to claim their government grant.
Activity summary of the year:
1. 25 full squads visited in the four provinces (5 munster, 4 Connacht, 4 Ulster, 12 Leinster)
2. Met squad representatives of 20 other squads (8 Ulster, 4 Connacht, 4 Leinster, 4 Munster)
3. Briefed all squad representatives and over 100 individual players on government funding and GPA activity (official recognition talks etc)
4. Met with National Steering Group for government funding on eight occasions
5. Met with Taskforce on Club/County Charter and Player/County Board relationships on four occasions
6. Co-ordinated the successful implementation of the GPA Hurling Twinning programme
7. Updated and streamlined each squads contact details facilitating improved communication to squads
8. Met with Energise, Opel and Halifax
9. Dealt with over 400 welfare issues involving both club and county players.
10. Organised our first GPA representative gatherings on All-Ireland finals day
11. Maintained constant contact with our GPA reps in each county, providing feedback to the GPA executive on many issues
12. Assisted in a club forum which provided general feedback for the GPA from club players.
13. Met and discussed grants related issues with many county board officials
Communications
PR Activity
Main PR activity during the summer 2008 concerned the Halifax Twinning Programme and the various visits by squads. The media uptake on the Twinning Programme was excellent with a good national and regional spread.
The steady coverage over the Opel Gaelic Players' Awards reflects the established nature of these events in the GAA calendar.
There was substantial brand coverage for Opel and Energise through a series of newspaper interviews throughout the championship season.
As well as a number of press releases on the Twinning activity and our regular award publicity, we also released statements during the year on the appointment of our National Development Officer, decisions taken by Central Council and Congress regarding Government Funding, CCCC Decision regarding Antrim fixture, Energise GPA Scholarships, Show Racism the Red Card, tribute to the late Seamus Brennan, Career Opportunities with Communications Clinic, the Croke Park pitch, Steven McDonnell's decision, two statements on behalf of the Donegal football squad, Energise 5 Year Partnership, International Rules success, AGM details, Halifax Fair Play Award winners.
Communications Strategy
A three-year Communications Strategy is currently being completed in conjunction with the overall strategy for the GPA. This will concern how we communicate with the GPA's various stakeholders. It will also include plans to develop our existing communication methods...
As well as communication via text messages, email and website, four hard-copy quarterly members bulletins were posted to all GPA members in 2009.
The Player Magazine
Four editions of The Player magazine were published in the Irish Independent in 2008. All four publications have been well received by our members and a broad GAA readership and the magazines have reflected well on the organisation. One of the main aims of this publication is to inform readers of the most up-to-date approaches to preparation being taken by leading footballers and hurlers. It is also to put those preparations into context and compare Gaelic players with the leading practitioners in other codes. As well as aiming to entertain those interested in sport in general, The Player also deals with the burning topics of the day and gives GAA fans an insight into what it means to be an inter-county player.
Website
The GPA website www.gaelicplayers.com was updated in November 2008. The emphasis is on players, offers, video interviews, info on conditioning, fitness (past editions of the Player magazine are available on line), shop etc. Regular features such as GAA news updates and GPA press releases are maintained while we have included a regular GPA news update slot.
We wanted players, our own members and the general public to understand what the GPA was about as soon as you landed on our homepage i.e. players. Throughout the site we have focused on player issues such as nutrition, fitness, health, drug testing etc. We have also developed the concept of GPA TV. This will be our own online TV station which makes the users experience far more interactive. We are also distributing these videos on You Tube and bebo. The website will be kept updated with content and articles from our magazines and we will update player videos as often as possible.
By the end of this month, we will have the facility for on-online membership renewals in conjunction with the standard procedure which we hope will make the membership renewal process much easier for players in future.
The website will also be home to a new online GPA shop where we will sell a number of products including gear, electronics and other player related products.
GPA Associate Programme
The GPA Associate Membership Programme is on-going. However, a substantial review of the scheme is currently underway and we plan a major revamp which will be launched this year providing an opportunity for club players, ladies players and supporters to affiliate with the GPA. We would encourage all our members to promote this programme to others to avail of the various benefits on offer.
Cork Hurlers
It was disappointing to learn of the Cork hurlers' situation over the past number of months. This squad have proven themselves to be a tremendously dedicated and professional outfit in recent years and have been wonderful ambassadors for Cork and the game of hurling. It is the GPA's sincere wish to see this group of players return to action shortly and on behalf of the Cork hurlers we thank the large number of squads and players who have expressed their support.
2009 - The Year Ahead
2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the Gaelic Players Association and promises to be an even busier year with official recognition talks, publication of the GPA's Strategic Plan and securing the Government Funding scheme for inter-county players during a deepening economic recession likely to top the agenda for the players' body.
GPA Activity Points 2009
Formal Recognition Negotiations
On-going campaign to secure future of Government Funding scheme
GPA's Strategic Plan 2009-2012
10th Anniversary Gala Night
Comprehensive Player Survey in conjunction with UCD
Launch of new GPA Player Welfare Package
Regular squad visits
New sponsorship initiatives
GPA/HSE Mental Health Partnership
GPA Staff and ExecutiveTraining
Energise Student Ambassador Programme 2009
Opel Player of the Month Awards 2009
Halifax Hurling Twinning Programmes 2009
Halifax Fair Play Awards, Fair Play Club Awards
Opel Teams of the Year, Players of the Year 2009