History
of St John Bosco
St. John Bosco G.F.C., Newry affiliated
at the South Down and Mourne League Convention in
January 1954. Under the guidance of Gerry Brown of
the St. John Bosco Youth Centre they won the Intermediate
League and the South Down Minor League the following
year. Two years after that initial affiliation an
A.G.M. decided to change the name of the Club to John
Mitchels and that the John Mitchel Club should be
separate from the Bosco Youth Centre as indeed it
was.
In 1963 the present St. John Bosco
G.F.C. was affiliated. Initially Bosco was probably
dwarfed by the two other Newry Clubs but as time went
on they have made great progress and their strength
has been recognised not only as a footballing force
but also as a well organised club.
They have participated with considerable
success in Scor competitions, particularly in musical
sections. A very tight-knit club, Bosco have often
been associated with particular families and in recent
years this has provided a nucleus of loyal players.
Jack Macken and Molly McAteer (both RIP) were important
figures in the Bosco's ability to survive. Another
important figure was the former Christian Brother,
Joe Ryan, who took many underage teams during the
mid-Eighties,
A successful policy has meant that
they have been able to ensure that their name is kept
to the fore on the Gaelic scene. In 1985 a Club History
was produced. With the good efforts of dedicated administrators
the Club is making steady progress and looks ahead
confidently.
In 2002 the club won the minor football
championship defeating Longstone in the county final.
