The Junior Gaels Football Club has offered competitive AAA summer football at the bantam, junior and senior varsity levels since 2004. Originally as the Limestone District Grenadiers, for our 15th year, the Grenadiers rebranded as Junior Gaels Football Club, a natural evolution of our partnership with Queen’s Athletics that further strengthens our club and the football community in our region. Not only is Richardson Stadium our home field, but together we will provide even more opportunities to our players and their families. During the 2018/2019 USPORTS season, 43 former Grenadiers played football for universities and colleges across the country, including 10 players with the Queen’s Gaels.

We attract top players come from across Frontenac, Hastings, Lanark, Leeds, Lennox and Prince Edward counties, and our teams travel from Ottawa to Windsor. Our volunteers are committed to three objectives: player safety; participation over competition; and education over performance. In addition to learning, playing and enjoying football, emphasis is placed on sportsmanship, self-discipline, teamwork, academic achievement and community involvement. We take immense pride in our foundation of values and principles that apply to all levels, and members of our football programs and our extended football family:

• To provide a positive experience for every athlete. We are committed to providing a fun, healthy environment based on mutual respect amongst players, and between players and coaches. Swearing, spitting, bullying is not part of Junior Gaels Football Club (this applies to coaches, players and parents).
• To promote fair play and sportsmanship by providing a program emphasizing enhancement of discipline, good character and citizenship. The Junior Gaels’ first consideration will always be the safety of the players.
• To ensure continuous improvement of players’ knowledge and skill at the sport of football. Our goal is to ensure that players will be better football players at the end of the season than they were at the beginning.
• Experience competition in both a practice and game setting. Every player will have equal opportunity to participate and improve during practices. Every player will contribute to the team in a game situation in accordance with their skill, level of maturity, dedication and position(s) they play. Although not always possible, we will strive for equal playing time for all players.

The Junior Gaels Football Club is a not-for-profit association overseen by a volunteer board of directors.