Erris football team pulout of Statoil sponsored cup in support of the Rossport 5

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Wednesday November 22, 2006 03:29 by supp

more local oppostion

THE Erris-based football club, Valley Rovers has sensationally pulled out of this year's FAI Junior Cup.

The club officially notified the FAI of its intention to withdraw yesterday (Monday).

They described the action as a "boycotting" one taken on the grounds that the high profile knock-out challenge is sponsored by Statoil, who are one of Shell E&P Ireland Ltd's partners in the Corrib gas project in Erris.

The Statoil FAI Junior Cup is one of the biggest soccer knock out tournaments in Europe.

In an official statement Valley Rovers F.C. said it had been disappointed to see local people from its parish, Kilcommon, being treated in a "heavy handed manner" by Gardaí as they protested at Shell's first attempts to resume work at the terminal site in Bellanaboy.

http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2006/10/11/story33...6.asp