Paddy Turner is the heart and soul of Clonmel Town FC, one of Tipperary's leading soccer clubs

Clonmel Town Football Club was formed in April 1963, and since November of that year Paddy Turner has remained on the club committee and is the longest serving committee member.

He continues to be one of the great foot soldiers of the club and of junior soccer in Tipperary.

Paddy has been honoured for his long service by being chosen by the Tipperary United Sports Panel for its Jimmy Cooney Lifetime Achievement Award. He and the other Annerville award winners will be presented with their awards at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel next Saturday night, January 21. 

Along with the late Jack Acheson, Paddy lined the pitch for every youth and adult game when the club played in The Showgrounds. When the club relocated to the Dr Pat O’ Callaghan sports complex in 1992, Paddy continued to work tirelessly, and he supervises the activities at the complex every Thursday night.

He rarely misses a youth or junior match and is also the club’s greatest fundraiser. He is the top seller in any weekly, monthly or one-off fundraiser in the club. 

Although in his late 70s, his passion or commitment to the club has never waned. 

Every game that requires a linesman, Paddy takes the flag. Before every home game, he is first to arrive and open the complex. He is last to leave, helping to take down the nets and put away the flags.

He is as passionate today as he ever was about all aspects of the club. 

The people of Clonmel and Tipperary are very grateful to a man who is the heart and soul of a football club that has given so many young boys and girls the opportunity to play football, many at the highest level of the game.