Football legends John Giles, Eoin Hand and Niall Quinn have backed the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association (IPFBA) ahead of its inaugural Golf Classic at Limerick Golf Club on Friday, September 27.

The recently established ex-players’ organisation offers assistance to former professionals facing health and financial challenges.

The trio are also supporting the IPFBA fundraiser by donating memorabilia that will be auctioned at a dinner, following the golf classic's launch at Limerick Golf Club by Mayor of Limerick John Moran.

“It is great that people are coming to the Golf Classic here in Limerick from all over the country, for what is a really important cause," said Moran. "Players whom we have looked up to as heroes may be the ones who now need help. I have finally got to shake the hand of Eoin Hand who was one of my heroes while I was growing up in Limerick.”

The staging of the golf classic has been undertaken by local former League of Ireland stars Pat Nolan, Brendan Storan, Ray O’Halloran, Micko O’Donnell, Johnny Walsh and Mike O’Brien, with 41 teams competing in an attempt to raising €10,000 from entry fees, sponsorships, the auction and individual donations.

Caption: Martin Lawlor, Ray O’Halloran, Harry McCue, John Moran, Brendan Storan and Eoin Hand.
Pic : Lorraine O’Sullivan

A former Ireland manager, international and revered Leeds United midfielder, John Giles warmly welcomed the establishment of the IPFBA.

“Everyone involved in Irish football should give the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association their full backing - it’s an initiative that can make a real difference to the lives of ex-professionals here,” he said.

The sentiment was echoed by Eoin Hand, who earned 20 caps for the Republic of Ireland and famously led Limerick United to a League of Ireland title in 1980 as player-manager.

“I am very pleased to attend the promotion for the IPFBA fundraiser and offer support to the charity auction - I’m particularly looking forward to the golf day that will garner much-needed finance for ex-players but also be a fantastic social occasion,” he added.

Former Ireland and Sunderland striker Niall Quinn was similarly enthusiastic, touching on the impact which the IPFBA could have in the decades ahead.

“The IPFBA is standing up to the crushing problem of ex-players who struggle to cope following retirement," Quinn said. "The organisation deserves the moral support and financial backing from all connected in our game today to help it to succeed.

"The IPFBA cannot change the past but with buy-in from the wider Irish football community, the IPFBA will provide a better future.”

IPFBA chairperson Harry McCue and secretary Martin Lawlor attended the launch, with the former praising the work that has gone into making the newly established annual golf classic a reality.

“The work put in by the committee here in Limerick has been phenomenal and the benefits from the golf classic in their entirety will go towards helping ex-players,” Harry said.

“Our association depends on the generosity of people within Irish football and it’s our intention that at least one of our beneficiaries will be a Limerick player when we distribute our first tranche of grants later this year.”

• The Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association's Golf Classic will take place at Limerick Golf Club on Friday 27 September.