Providing a structured league system for clubs in Meath

The Meath and District League provides a structured league system for all soccer clubs in Meath and its surrounding hinterland. It looks after the underage set up right through to seniors.

Situated on a 22 acre site off the Trim Road in Navan, the MDL has some top class facilities including:

• 2 premium sand based pitches
• 3 other serviceable full size grass pitches
• 7 synthetic all weather floodlit pitches
• 6 dressing rooms, large hall, shower and toilets, meeting room and kitchen

Through the Seasons - A History of the M.D.L

The M.D.L. has an interesting history that ranges for over 30 years. Following a rejected late entry to the Louth & District League and The Leinster Junior League from Kilmessan AFC the then elected Chairman of the newly formed club, Vincent Brennan, placed an ad in the Sports page of the Meath Chronicle in September 1980 which simply read ‘ It is proposed to start a Soccer League in the Mid Meath area, for further details contact Vincent Brennan Kilmessan .‘ There was a great deal of interest and The Meath & District League was formed by members of Kilmessan AFC.

Initially the league had a membership of eight Clubs representing nine teams, Kilmessan who had two teams, along with Moynalvey, Skryne, Cosmos, Dunshaughlin, Robinstown, and Turmec. For the second season there was an increase to fifteen Clubs representing seventeen teams. For the first two seasons the league was known as the Mid Meath League with all the Clubs cantered around a fifteen to twenty miles radius. In 1982 through the great help and assistance of The Leinster Football Association Secretary George Briggs, the league was affiliated to the F.A.I. through the provincial association. The name was changed to the Meath & District League and membership increased to twenty two Clubs representing thirty teams, covering a wider area than before, which included a small number of Clubs from Westmeath.

For the following few seasons membership increased dramatically, and by 1986 it had reached fifty two Clubs representing sixty seven teams. A number of established Clubs from other Leagues transferred to the M.D.L. most notable Ratoath Harps, Stackallen Rovers, and Dunboyne from Dublin Leagues, Dromin Utd, Square Utd, and Albion Rovers from the Louth League. Because of demand a schoolboy section was formed with an initial entry of eight teams at both Under 14 & 16.

The next few seasons saw increases to such an extent that in 1988 there were sixty three Clubs representing ninety one teams in affiliation. The schoolboy;s section now had grades at Under 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18. The top two divisions in the League were now recognised to be on a par with most junior Leagues in the Country. A number of Clubs were now firmly established and were making strides in improving their facilities. Under the guidance of the F.A.I. Senior Coach Noel King a preliminary coaching course was held and attracted an entry of fifty five participants. This was a clear indication (if one was needed) of the commitment within the M.D.L. to try and improve standards both on and off the field of play.

Recognising the stability of the League all round, a decision was taken in November 1988 to purchase a twenty two acre site two miles from Navan on the main Trim Road. The purchase price was £40,000.00. The MDL had raised half the amount and the rest was borrowed from the T.S.B. Navan over a four year period. Having completed the repayments in 1992, The first stage of development was embarked upon which included a drive way, car park, and preliminary work for buildings. In 1995 a building which included four dressing rooms, shower and toilets, a meeting room and kitchen was completed. An extension to include a large hall two more dressing rooms, and upstairs storage and meetings rooms was added in 2005. Two top class sand based pitches are also in use for the past number of years along with three other serviceable full size grass Pitches. In September 2000 and at that stage being only the third of its type in the Country six 40 yard X 30 yard synthetic All Weather floodlit pitches were developed. A further half size 60 yard X 30 yard was added in 2009. Demand for this vital facility has been phenomenal in the last ten years.


The present Executive Committee include John Gorman, Gerry Gorman, Pat O’Brien, David Tully, Eugene Lynch, Angie Melia, Jimmy Mangan, Hugh Powderly, Brendan Mc-Keown, Brian Hayes, Paddy Myles, John O’Byrne, Sean Farrell, and Vivian Kelly.