Queen’s Athletics and Recreation has partnered with the Limestone District Grenadiers, making the football club the second local minor sports organization to join the Junior Gaels program.

With the agreement the newly-rebranded Junior Gaels Football Club will suit up in tricolour for the organization’s 15th season.

“This is the second announcement of the exciting release of a Junior Gaels program. The simple goal of the Junior Gaels concept is to inspire local Kingston athletes to attend Queen’s, and one day play for the Gaels,” says Jeff Downie, Director, Business Development and Operations, Queen’s Athletics and Recreation. “This partnership is an extension of an existing arrangement. Richardson Stadium has been the home of the Grenadiers and Queen’s student-athletes were part of the Grenadiers coaching staff this summer. We look forward to our current student-athletes connecting with the Kingston community in a new way.”

During the 2018 U SPORTS season, 43 former Grenadiers played football for universities and colleges across the country, including 12 players with the Queen’s Gaels. 

“The club has been working with Queen’s Athletics for several months to enhance our existing partnership, improve our efforts to strengthen the football community in our region, and to provide even more amazing opportunities to our players and their families,” says Alexandra Reyes-Walsh, the president of Junior Gaels Football. 

All participants in the Junior Gaels program will receive benefits such as:

• Opportunities to meet and learn from current Gaels athletes
• Coaching support from current Queen's coaches
• Free admission to Gaels sporting events
• Special Junior Gaels programming at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC)
• Discounts, promotions and much more

Junior Gaels Football is a AAA club based in Kingston that plays within the Ontario Provincial Football League against competitive teams from Ottawa to Windsor.

“Any athlete 12 to 19 years old is welcome to try out for Junior Gaels Football,” says Reyes-Walsh. 

The Junior Gaels Football Club remains an independent entity as a not-for-profit organization with its own board of directors. Registration opens Jan. 2 at www.jrgaelsfootball.ca.

The partnership has also landed its first big event to be held this summer.

“As part of our ongoing partnership we are also pleased to announce that we have been successful in our efforts with Queen’s Athletics to host the 2019 Football Canada Cup and the U16 Eastern Challenge to be held at Richardson Stadium in July," says Reyes-Walsh.

Close to 500 players and 100 coaches will take part in the event from July 8-14.

Last week, it was announced the Kingston Clippers soccer organization was the first member of the Junior Gaels program.