Thank you, Darren | OneFootball

Shelbourne FC would like to wish Darren Cleary all the very best as he prepares to depart his volunteer role with the club in the coming weeks.

A lifelong Red and former Supporter Liaison Officer, Darren became Shelbourne’s Head of Media and Communications in the summer of 2022, succeeding Gavin White. In the years since, he has continued to build the club’s media operation and helped tell the story of the most successful period in Shelbourne’s recent history.

Darren was thrown in at the deep end almost immediately, with the Reds reaching the 2022 FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium, the club’s first appearance on that stage since 2011, giving him and his team a huge occasion to deliver for the club and its supporters.

In 2024, Shelbourne won the League of Ireland Premier Division title for the first time since 2006, sealing it in dramatic fashion at the Ryan McBride Brandywell in a match watched by a record television audience for a domestic game in Ireland.

That title was followed by a European adventure in the UEFA Conference League as the club qualified for the league phase for the first time in our history, and Darren’s media team was there to document every step of the journey, from the success at Windsor Park through to the club’s UEFA Conference League campaign, on nights that will live long in the memory of everyone connected with Shelbourne.

Off the pitch, Darren also helped tell the story of the 250-year lease secured for Tolka Park, a landmark moment in the club’s history, alongside being a regular — and entirely non-controversial — contributor to the 1895 Podcast.

Outside of his media role, Darren led several memorable projects for Shelbourne, including the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Tolka Park. He arranged the return of club legends including Wes Hoolahan, Damien Duff, Jason Byrne, Stephen Geoghegan and Stuey Byrne, and worked alongside colleagues across the club to plan and deliver the commemorative match and wider centenary event.

Darren also devised the Tolka Park homecoming following the dramatic league title win in Derry the previous night and acted as MC on the Saturday afternoon, a day that will live long in the memory of every Shels supporter.

Throughout it all, Darren worked closely with the club’s talented team of media volunteers including Ciarán Doyne, Ben Cleary, Steven Doody, Eoin Smith, and Reggie O’Malley, continuing to grow Shelbourne’s digital platforms and ensuring that supporters at home and abroad never missed a moment of the journey.

Through the highs and lows of the past four years, Darren has been a constant and steady hand, providing support and guidance to so many people across the club. His influence extends far beyond Shelbourne’s media output, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Tolka Park.

Everyone at Shelbourne FC would like to thank Darren for his dedication and for the role he has played in telling the story of one of the greatest periods in the club’s history. We wish him, Laura and their growing family every happiness as they begin this new chapter together.