Austin Stacks Press Release – 30th November 2016
Stephen Stack – A Rockie Appreciation
The refrain “Stephen Stack & the Rockie Boys are on our way to Glory “ has been sung with fervour and ardent belief by all Austin Stacks supporters since the Listowel native darkened our Connolly Park doors in 2013. The Senior Team’s exploits in the intervening years have cemented what will be an indelible and lifelong link based on friendship and admiration between all Rockies and the man from Fealeside.
Reaching 13 competition finals since he became manager of our senior football team and winning 9 (including county and provincial honours), bears fervent testimony to his coaching, man management and team building capabilities (amongst others). Such success has provided the club with a very firm bedrock upon which to develop many new facilities and best in class off –the-field structures and all on Rock St will remain forever indebted to Stephen for this.
Imbued with a great leadership abilities, tremendous attention to detail and excellent assessment of people and situations, Stephen has brought tremendous qualities to our club and all players , supporters and administrators have reaped the rewards from working with , listening to and knowing him.
Many people, whether players or managers, flash across the life of a club for a year or two and never stop to understand its ethos or culture. Stephen is the rare exception who expressed a genuine desire from the very first meeting to get involved, support and truly immerse himself in our club and that is why he will always be part of the Austin Stacks GAA Club’s history & folklore.
Everyone at Austin Stacks GAA Club wish Stephen the very best in everything he does in the future and I , for one, am confident that many teams and businesses , far greater than our own, will benefit from his capabilities in years to come.
The 2017 Austin Stacks Senior Football management team will be put in place in the coming weeks.
Liam Lynch
Chairman
Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club
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Letter to the Austin Stacks Club from Stephen Stack
30.11.16
Hi Liam,
I just want to let you know that I have taken the decision to step away as manager of the Senior Football team. It has been a fantastic experience to have been involved with the Senior team and the great Austin Stacks club over the past 4 years. We have created some very special memories which hopefully will live long with everyone involved in the years ahead.
I want to thank everyone in the club who, even though I was an outsider, made me so welcome from the first day I set foot in Connolly Park four years ago.
I want to thank all the players whom we worked with over that period, they gave us everything and showed what playing for the Rock meant to them. I also want to acknowledge the work of all underage coaches who produced a talented group of players that I and my management teams were fortunate to work with.
I want to thank the club executive under both Aidan and your own leadership, Liam, who were hugely supportive every step along the way and could not have done more to help us on the field. I want to especially thank Jim Naughton, Catherine Ryan, Elma Nix, Bernie Mannix and Mike Kenny, who along with many others, worked tirelessly on behalf of both the club and ourselves. I also want to thank the field committee and dressing room personnel, especially Noel, John and Dinny who always had the pitches and facilities in top condition and always went out of their way to facilitate us.
I want to thank Maurice and all the bar staff who were always so good to us as a management team.
Leading a Senior team like the Rock to any of the success we had would not have been possible without the excellent management teams that I worked with and in that regard I want to thank Pa Laide, John Joe Sugrue, Paul Lucey, Ciaran Mc Cabe, Johnny Walsh, William Kirby, Micheal Dillon and Pat Flanagan and Billy Lee who added so much to our Strength and coaching this year. I also want to acknowledge the work that Tommy Naughton, our coach to the goalies, did . Keeping the players healthy was hugely important and in that regard I want to acknowledge the diligent work of Paudie Mc Quinn, Fionnan and Derek previously.
From the first training session to the last John Tobin and Ger Mannix never missed a session and I want to thank them for being so supportive and ever present.
While I leave with many great memories, I or any of us that had the good fortune to be involved will never forget the incredible support and loyalty of the unique Stacks supporters. I still have a vivid memory of John Collins and the Wein coming into a meeting of the players before the All Ireland semi final and the legion of supporters that followed us to various big games by plane, train, bus and car! The march down the Rock to the Brogue to bring us back up to the club the night we won the county final, the procession from Cork Con to Pairc i Chaoimh or the incredible parade in Portlaoise are all moments we will ever forget. Thank you one and all.
If I have left anyone out it is completely unintentional.
Finally I want to wish everyone in the club the very best of luck as you face into a very important centenary year,
All the best and every good wish now and always,
Stephen.