Philip Scully

Originally published: Town Tattler Vol 4 Issue 3

Commercial Manager, Portlaoise GAA Club.

Earliest involvements

Cumann na mBunscol and U12s for the town under Mr. Brosnan. He used to run football leagues in the Club also after school, which were great. At U12’s we went to St Jude’s, Templeogue for a weekend to play in a tournament. It was my first time away from home alone and my first-time experiencing discrimination for being a Culchie. Never liked the Dubs since!

Playing memories

My greatest memories are U14 and playing in the All-Ireland Feile’s. Both years we were in Meath for the weekend. No mobiles or parents travelling to support back then. 24 of us in a bus and off to Meath for the weekend with our Coaches, Murt Parkinson and Brian Delaney. We lost in the final the first year and won it the second, beating Four Masters from Donegal in Pairc Tailteann, Navan. Plenty of lads from both teams went onto play Senior for Club and County, Fitzy, Woolly, Ian Fitz, Luigi, Churtletown etc. Colm Rigney went on to be a pro-rugby player. To this day, we still chat about the craic we had those weekends. Innocent times. I’ve won a few Junior titles also; most recent one was with my old man in charge which was special.

Supporter memories

I said to Kevin Fitz recently that some of my fondest childhood memories were meeting up with him on county final day and squeezing through the wire to get on the pitch before the game. He told me, he didn’t remember me being there which was kind of devastating, but they were fond memories for me anyway.

I remember the big games in 86 when Laois won the League. Savo and I getting onto the pitch in Croke Park after we won. We had a big game in the Nun’s Garden in Scoil Christ Ri a week later, both First Classes pitted against each other. We were told that Mrs Duggan had organised a surprise guest to ref the game. I was blown away when Atch Whelan arrived with the trophy. There was pandemonium. A 7-year-old me, just couldn’t understand how Mrs Duggan was able to get such a sporting superstar to come to our school! I’ve had some great days and nights over the years, going to games celebrating county and Leinster final wins.

Family connections

My brother Savo is a die hard – Club and County. Would never miss a game and heavily involved in the Club. His kids, Ryan and Faye, play for the town. Tommy is a townie, played and involved in the Club also. T.A was a life-member and supporter. All very proud Portlaoise men, like me. My wife, Gemma, is a Smyth from the Ridge, so I have the town coming at me from all sides now.

Background with footballers

I had been saying for a while how I would like to get involved with the Club someday. I’d been living in Dublin for several years, but when I moved home permanently, I gradually started getting involved. It started with helping Sheamie Smyth out with the Juniors and then I got promoted to water-boy for the Intermediates, helping Churtle Delaney.

We lost a final to Emo Seniors in a replay, should have won the first day. Then, when Kevin Fitz took on the Seniors, he asked would I help him with the stats. He sacked me after two seasons. I’m not great with technology and completely blind, which are key attributes of a good stat man, so I probably deserved it...

Getting involved on committee side

As you can tell from my previous answer, if I was going to help then I needed to utilise my skills, which were not in the dressing room! It all started when Teddy stepped in as Chairman. I remember watching his acceptance speech at that AGM via Zoom during Covid. It really resonated with me when he talked about getting the Club back to being the best in the County, on and off the pitch.

I just thought you can sit in front of a pint and moan about what the Club should be doing or get up off your backside and offer to help. I met him by chance shortly after, in Trax on Christmas Eve, he was panic shopping! We got chatting and before I knew it, I was invited to a newly formed Capital Development Committee meeting with Jason Lalor, Mick Ryan, John Dunne, Bosco and co. I haven’t been able to get out of it since...

The story of Philo involvement in past 3 years +

Bingo, Development, Fundraising, Marketing, Commercial. Where do I start, one day you’re out walking your dog without a care in the world, next you’re in about 25 different town GAA WhatsApp groups. It started with the capital development group which eventually led to Town25 launch. Within that group, we have subgroups focusing on fundraising, grants etc. so I am involved in all of those.

The Bingo was a spin-off from the fundraising group and turned out to be massive success. Club25 came on the back of that, which was a big success also. The Bingo was great to be involved in. A good group with different professional backgrounds/perspectives and never an argument over two years. Town25 is still moving along nicely.

More recently, Teddy asked if I could start to put a more formal commercial structure within the Club. All the big Clubs around the country would have one in place. To try streamline and maximise all commercial activities and potential revenue streams for the Club. It’s very early stages and allot of work will be involved, but we are already close to announcing some positive progress.

The key to success in all the above has been forming groups instead of one person flying solo and the personnel involved. Everyone has different views and there’s been plenty of healthy debate but ultimately everyone is there and happy to give up their time for one purpose; to see the Club grow and thrive.

Your view on club...where its at...where its going...where you would envision it..

I think the Club is at one the most exciting times in its history. There is massive work going on within the Club, both on and off the pitch. There are great structures being put in place in the Juvenile section, the progressive decision to move to a one-Club model, the hurlers back to Senior and the continued growth and success of our ladies’ teams.

Off the field, we’ve raised the bar with the continued development of our social media channels, our website, and new app. The final piece of the jigsaw will be a Clubhouse to match our success and ambition on the pitch. The Town25 group are making steady progress on that front.

I think once that comes, with the right structures and people in place, we should strive to consistently be one of the top Clubs in the Country, competing for top honours across all grades every year. The town is continuing to grow, so the numbers are there. We just need to ensure we have the facilities and structures to attract, develop and retain kids as they progress to adult grades.

The day job

Sales Director for a pharma-packaging company. My old man taught me how to sell, so I’m an expert in talking nonsense and drinking coffee.