Under-15 League to start August 2017.

[nigel-harps1954]

Great to see this get underway.


The Football Association of Ireland is seeking preliminary expressions of interest from non SSE Airtricity League clubs or entities to participate in a new National Under 15 League.

The new National League will begin in August 2017, which will be a truncated season, followed by a full 2018 season.


The new Under 15 National League follows the success of the SSE Airtricity Under 17 and Under 19 National Leagues and will strengthen the elite player path-way across the country.


The success of the Under 17 and Under 19 National Leagues has been highlighted this season with Cork City Under 19s' progression in the UEFA Youth League and a number of international call-ups to the Republic of Ireland Under 21s, Under 19s and Under 17s.


FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dokter believes the creation of the Under 15 league is another important step in improving the structure of Irish domestic football.


Dokter said: "Having witnessed the success of the Under 17 and Under 19 leagues, it is important we continue to improve the path-way with the creation of an Under 15 league.


"The best players are playing in the national leagues, working with highly-qualified and educated coaches, and playing with the best and against the best.
"All these factors guarantee the correct learning and development. Our aim is to continue to put the right structures in place whilst working with and supporting all clubs.


"I've no doubt that the growth of the underage structures at all clubs will ultimately lead to better players playing in better teams in a stronger domestic game where we can progress international talent."


Clubs or entities who intend to express an interest should do so by registered post to the address given below before October 25, 2016, stating name, contact, and current or intended youth development structures.

[sbgawa]

Non sse airtricity league clubs !! Does this mean they are letting the current schoolboy clubs in dublin get involved ?? The long term plan for the elite dublin schoolboys is sell them into second devision academies in England.....no interest in keeping them here

[nigel-harps1954]

Non sse airtricity league clubs !! Does this mean they are letting the current schoolboy clubs in dublin get involved ?? The long term plan for the elite dublin schoolboys is sell them into second devision academies in England.....no interest in keeping them here

The same expressions they put out for 19's and 17's. Dublin schoolboy clubs aren't allowed in because they're not willing to field senior sides. Kerry & Monaghan/Cavan have ambitions to field senior sides in future, it's this that the FAI are looking for with their expression of interest I'd guess. The likes of Castlebar, Mullingar, Kilkenny or Tipperary could look to this with interest.

[legendz]

The same expressions they put out for 19's and 17's. Dublin schoolboy clubs aren't allowed in because they're not willing to field senior sides. Kerry & Monaghan/Cavan have ambitions to field senior sides in future, it's this that the FAI are looking for with their expression of interest I'd guess. The likes of Castlebar, Mullingar, Kilkenny or Tipperary could look to this with interest.
Seems to be a similar expression of interest alright. The U17s started with a truncated league as well before this first full season.

Not everyone in the Kerry League is in agreement with involvement in these leagues. One man I spoke to at the game yesterday was adamant they should pull out. Any rough idea on the costs per underage teams for being involved?

Mayo based on previous involvement in underage or intermediary levels standout as an area that might join. There's an understandable reluctance from some areas. We've had u21 leagues change to U20 leagues and then the formation of the A Championship. The underage leagues will need a few years to become established.

If it's not feasible for Kerry to field a senior side in a few years, the underage leagues are still beneficial for the county. It'll stand to future Oscar Traynor Cup teams. It should help improve the game within the county as well. No Kerry team has won the FAI Junior Cup.

[nigel-harps1954]

Seems to be a similar expression of interest alright. The U17s started with a truncated league as well before this first full season.

Not everyone in the Kerry League is in agreement with involvement in these leagues. One man I spoke to at the game yesterday was adamant they should pull out. Any rough idea on the costs per underage teams for being involved?

Mayo based on previous involvement in underage or intermediary levels standout as an area that might join. There's an understandable reluctance from some areas. We've had u21 leagues change to U20 leagues and then the formation of the A Championship. The underage leagues will need a few years to become established.

If it's not feasible for Kerry to field a senior side in a few years, the underage leagues are still beneficial for the county. It'll stand to future Oscar Traynor Cup teams. It should help improve the game within the county as well. No Kerry team has won the FAI Junior Cup.

There's people out there who believe the entire League of Ireland should be scrapped. I wouldn't listen to one mans opinion. It's great for football in Kerry and for football in this country to see Kerry involvement at a national level. There's great scope for a senior side in four or five years there.

No idea of the costs someone like Kerry would incur, but I know Harps are putting in around €40,000 a year to underage structures.

[legendz]

There's people out there who believe the entire League of Ireland should be scrapped. I wouldn't listen to one mans opinion. It's great for football in Kerry and for football in this country to see Kerry involvement at a national level. There's great scope for a senior side in four or five years there.

No idea of the costs someone like Kerry would incur, but I know Harps are putting in around €40,000 a year to underage structures.I took his opinion with a pinch of salt! He was convinced Tralee Dynamos pulled out of the A Championship when the FAI pulled the plug on that.

Like anywhere else there are politics at play as well. The majority of this year's Kerry u17 side came from Tralee and Killarney. They'll need to cast the net county wide. There are better u17 players around the county not involved. A few years of struggle might see changes to player selection.

[Kingdom]

I took his opinion with a pinch of salt! He was convinced Tralee Dynamos pulled out of the A Championship when the FAI pulled the plug on that.

Like anywhere else there are politics at play as well. The majority of this year's Kerry u17 side came from Tralee and Killarney. They'll need to cast the net county wide. There are better u17 players around the county not involved. A few years of struggle might see changes to player selection.

Legendz I love your enthusiasm for Kerry soccer. It's a pity that it isn't followed suit more down there. I've a couple of friends involved through their sons in a few of the smaller clubs, and they've said the same as yourself.
I generally keep an eye out for Kerry team results in the SFAI cups, it'll be interesting to see how far the likes of Park can go. When you see a small club like Dingle Bay Rovers looking to install a 3G pitch, you know soccer is on the up.

[gufcfan]

There's people out there who believe the entire League of Ireland should be scrapped.

Sure there's people on the boards of LOI clubs who would rather the LOI didn't exist in their region.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I took his opinion with a pinch of salt! He was convinced Tralee Dynamos pulled out of the A Championship when the FAI pulled the plug on that.

Like anywhere else there are politics at play as well. The majority of this year's Kerry u17 side came from Tralee and Killarney. They'll need to cast the net county wide. There are better u17 players around the county not involved. A few years of struggle might see changes to player selection.

Do players for the Kerry team play for clubs too or just for Kerry. Surely having (in theory) the best players from Kerry playing against (again in theory) the best players in the country can only be beneficial for their development