These competitions have raised vital funds for the club and we aim to continue our efforts to support Bohs on and off the pitch. We encourage all true Gypsies to enter the competition and to recruit friends and family members to join in. For this series, the entry fee is just €10.

It’s easy to take part and there’s fun and excitement in the competition, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that half of all the entry fees goes to Bohemian Football Club. There’s also potentially a massive prize for the winner of the competition.

To play, you pick a team from the League of Ireland in week one. If they win you go through to next round where you pick another team (you cannot pick the same team twice). If your team loses or draws you are out. Simple as that.

If you join the competition you get an email notice ahead of each round of fixtures with a deadline to reply with your selection.

This continues until we have a Last Man Standing (or woman, as we have had more than one female winner!), who picks up the prize money. If more than one person is still standing after 10 matches, then they will share the pot of all entry fees received.

Click here to enter.

• Hypno Puppets: Visit Facebook site, visit YouTube site, visit SoundCloud site.
• Tom Eaton: “A young singer-songwriter from the Sligo scene and plays a mix of his own songs, whose voice, guitarmanship and experience betray his age.”

Other acts to be announced in coming days.

If you are interested in playing or singing on the night DalymountSessions@bohemians.ie.

Speaking at Thursday’s launch of Karmann Volkswagen’s sponsorship of Bohemians, Lopes explained: “I wouldn’t say I’m feeling the pressure but they are definitely big boots to fill.

“Personally I see it as a big opportunity so it’s up to me now to step up and take it. I’m happy to see the two lads who left doing well because we’re still good mates.”

Lopes signed for the Gypsies four years ago under Pat Fenlon after a successful schoolboy career with Dublin side Belvedere. He then made his debut in the FAI Cup semi-final defeat against Sligo Rovers in 2010.

The 20-year-old has come on leaps and bounds since and this season he is ready to announce himself as a first-team regular at Dalymount Park – and mark it with a trophy too.

“We’re very ambitious this year,”  added Lopes. “We want to try and win a cup and I think we have every right to be ambitious this year – we’re aiming to finish in the top four too.

“The label of being a young squad can’t hang around forever so we need to be ambitious and go out and try to win something.

“We’re looking really sharp and we’ve had a good pre-season under us. Last year the preparation wasn’t the best at the start of the season. We had too many players and the squad wasn’t settled, but this year we have a good squad together.”

One man who has been vital in Lopes’ career so far is veteran defender and Gypsies captain Owen Heary.

And Lopes reckons he is learning a lot from the 36-year-old seven-time League of Ireland winner.

“Owen is fantastic. He really helps me out, especially being a defender. He has so much information he can give me and we’re good mates too on and off the pitch.

“If I could do half as well as him in my career I’d be doing well.”

The statement announcing the sponsorship reads…

Karmann Volkswagen has today announced a new sponsorship deal with Bohemian Football Club, strengthening Volkswagen Group’s support for Irish soccer. The new dealership opened its doors in April 2012 and continues to build strong links with the local communities in Castleknock, Blanchardstown and further afield.

Speaking on behalf of Karmann Volkswagen, Darren Cahill, REDCO Managing Director said: “Karmann is delighted to sponsor Bohs for the 2013 season. Bohemian FC is our local premier league club and we look forward to enjoying a strong and successful partnership with them. We are very supportive of the efforts the club is making to expand their fan base within the local community.”

To celebrate the new partnership Karmann has announced a ‘Kids go Free’ promotion which enables one paying adult to bring up to 3 kids (under the age of 14) to any home games in Dalymount Park free of charge. “The reaction from staff and customers to the new partnership has been incredible and everyone is looking forward to the season ahead,” said Cahill.

Simon Elliott, CEO of Volkswagen Group Ireland is confident that the partnership will deliver for Volkswagen and Bohs. “We are strong supporters of Irish soccer and we believe this is a great partnership between two strong brands. Bohemian FC is a fantastic club and we support these strong local relationships which can only benefit our local Volkswagen dealers.”

Bohemian FC President, Matt Devaney, welcomed Karmann Volkswagen as the club’s main sponsor. “We are very pleased a company associated with such a strong brand has come on board as the club’s sponsor,” he said. “We aim to build a strong partnership that delivers mutual benefits. We thank the team at Karmann and Volkswagen for making this partnership possible. Karmann has a strong presence in north-west Dublin from where we draw much of our support. We look forward to working together in the community.”

Bohs went on to score five without reply; however this game wasn’t all plain sailing for Aaron Callaghan’s men. Indeed it was two substitutions that made all the difference for Bohs, who lined out in a 4-5-1 formation with Karl Moore at left-back and Dwayne Wilson operating as the lone striker.

This Greystones side did their homework on their opponents as they pressed the Gypsies high up the park, forcing midfielder Dara Reynor to drop even deeper to get his side motoring before the reinforcements were sprung from the bench.

The entrance of Kevin O’Leary after nine minutes for the injured Shane Fitzgerald and Conor O’Brien at half-time for Niall Forrester boosted attacking options.  O’Leary’s introduction shifted Wilson out to the right wing and gave Bohs more of a presence up front.

Before Bohemians equalised on 48 minutes, the well-organised Leinster Senior League outfit could have been more than one in front.  Saves from Murray denied United on three, 18 and 33 minutes as the home side applied some pressure.

With young O’Brien stationed in midfield from the start of the second half, Bohemians shifted up a gear. It was O’Brien who put O’Leary through for the equaliser on 48 minutes, finishing under pressure into the corner.

And another Bohemians substitute, Santiago Falbo, almost allowed Greystones back into the game just four minutes later as a misplaced pass set a United attacker clean through, however the danger was eventually averted.

The growing threat of Bohs captain Stephen Paisley at set pieces paid dividends on 64 minutes when Wilson’s flag-kick was headed back by Scully for Paisley to finish off to put Bohemians in front.

The increasingly involved Falbo shot wide on 67 minutes, while on 74, he created a chance for substitute Adam Kelly, who opted to shoot instead of heading, when well placed. Reynor’s daisy-cutter from the edge of the box one minute later tested United’s substitute goalkeeper, who expertly tipped the ball around the post.

Falbo then helped set up Bohemians’ third in comical circumstances. His near-perfect through ball was collected by a Greystones player, who passed it back to his keeper. The on-rushing Adam Kelly pressurised keeper Eoghan Smullen’s clearance, which deflected off Kelly and into the back of the net.

Adam Kelly then showed his class with an inch-perfect ball over the top of the home defence to winger Andy Mulligan, who centred to O’Leary to finish for Bohemians’ fourth on 83.

Two minutes from time, right full-back Michael Barker steamed through on goal following a slaloming run from the halfway line, only to be upended by Smullen. Barker picked himself up from the artificial surface and dispatched the penalty, sending Smullen the wrong way from 11 metres.

The end score was harsh on the neat-passing hosts, who took the game to the more illustrious visitors from the off.

But after Sunday’s Leinster Senior Cup defeat to UCD, this 5-1 victory put Bohs’ pre-season back on track and may have given manager Callaghan some food for thought ahead of Friday week’s league opener.

Bohemians: GK Grey Murray, 2 Michael Barker,  11 Dave Scully,  5 Stephen Paisley (capt),  4 Karl Moore,  6 Dara Reynor, 15 Niall Forrester, 17 Shane Fitzgerald, 9 Dwayne Wilson, 8 Shane Murray,  10 Andy Mulligan.
Subs [all used]: 23 Kevin O’Leary, 20 Santiago Falbo, 19 Luke Kelly, 12 Conor O’Brien,  18 Luke Kelly, 16 Adam Kelly,  GK Conor Little.

He played with Bohemians for a season, while he also became active in the IRA. He was strongly associated with Michael Collins and joined the pro-Treaty forces, becoming a major-general in the National Army at the age of 24.

In 1924, while Dalton was Clerk of the Seanad, he was elected president of Bohemian FC. He later became a film producer.

Dalton lived in Drumcondra and Phibsboro and he will be the subject of a talk by Des Gunning during Phizzfest on 5th May.

The devastating effect Ireland’s property crash had on the club’s finances is well-documented and Devaney acknowledges that if it wasn’t for Brien’s determination to tackle spending, negotiate with creditors and rally troops when the future looked ominous, a 123-year-old institution could have been lost.

Devaney said: “As I mentioned at last week’s AGM, all members and fans owe a huge debt to Chris Brien for his selfless, thankless work over the past few years.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to state that without him, we wouldn’t have a club – or at least the club as we know it.

“He mightn’t always get the recognition he deserves but the sacrifices he made over the recent past to ensure the club survived have been incredible.

“They have not gone unnoticed by those of us who have worked closely with him during this time and I know it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the membership in general, who I hope are extremely appreciative of his efforts.

“He has epitomised the true meaning of a members-owned club and its volunteer ethos by listening to everyone’s opinion, rallying the fans when needed and at all times carrying himself with great dignity.

“I hope to carry on in much the same vein and while we still face great difficulties, the pathway has been cleared somewhat by Chris’ sterling work.”