Abbeyleix Athletic Football Club
Abbeyleix have a long tradition in soccer. 
First founded by Joe Hutchinson in 1950 where the club first played on the thatched bog in Killamuck before moving to the Knocknamoe site near Stonearch in 1960. Two years later we moved to the FR. Breen Park where they still play today. Our senior team is the longest running team currently playing in Laois. We have three senior teams and 200 juvenile players. The senior teams play in the “Combined Counties” league while the juveniles play in the “Midlands Schoolboys/girls League”. Both these leagues cover approximately the same area which stretches from Mullingar to Roscrea and from Abbeyleix to Portumna and includes such towns as Tullamore, Portlaoise and Birr.
First founded by Joe Hutchinson in 1950 where the club first played on the thatched bog in Killamuck before moving to the Knocknamoe site near Stonearch in 1960. Two years later we moved to the FR. Breen Park where they still play today. Our senior team is the longest running team currently playing in Laois. We have three senior teams and 200 juvenile players. The senior teams play in the “Combined Counties” league while the juveniles play in the “Midlands Schoolboys/girls League”. Both these leagues cover approximately the same area which stretches from Mullingar to Roscrea and from Abbeyleix to Portumna and includes such towns as Tullamore, Portlaoise and Birr.Players come from Ballacolla, Ballyroan, Shanahoe, Raheen, Ballinakill as well as Abbeyleix. This expanded catchment area ensures we can compete with the much larger towns in the league. Teams from Abbeyleix take part in the league and cup competitions as well as participating in the National Cup which is run by the FAI. Four of our teams made it to the fourth round of this competition which means we are punching well above our weight. We have one full sized pitch, an all-weather training pitch and use the Parks –7 a- side astroturf also. The development of the all weather pitches has improved play for local teams, as rain will not interfere with training. The Summer Soccer Camps are a big attraction in the Park. The club has training all week from 6pm until 8pm for Juveniles and for seniors from 8-9. The ambition of the club is to promote soccer in the area for all. Our increasing numbers means that our priority has to be getting a second pitch to allow us to continue to develop.
