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What work is done by LoI clubs in terms of youth structures? Are many or all clubs actively working within their communities, with schools and/or local junior clubs? Are clubs working within their immediate area/city/town or more within a wider region?
Harps have a Schools programme working with Donegal Sports Partnership.
The club have set up and academy with the Under 17 (the first side set up) side getting beat in the semi final of the Foyle Cup by Hibs followed up by winning the Galway Cup.
The club have recently appealed for coaches to come forward for all academy sides starting at u10's. This has been after a long process in consulting with the various Schoolboys leagues and organisations to meet their approval.
Most clubs are involved in schools at some level but there are plenty of obstacles, not least the cash required to have a regular presence and the stubborn refusal of certain competing sports to co-exist with soccer clubs (and indeed other clubs from similar codes) in schools.
Further to the point, there's just not the money in soccer than there is in the other three major sports on the island. Anybody who's been through the school system in Dublin will know that the kids are only into football but it is very difficult for clubs to get an in with the politics that are involved. Clubs could definitely do more but in a lot of instances they are running into a brick wall.
We were getting into it on the Galway FC topic but i would suggest a regional u17 and u15 set up for LOI clubs similar too the u19 league but instead of a national elite division just have a north and south league. too costly too have a national league at this level.
Limerick have teams running from senior all the way down to 'Baby Blues' (kids as young as two or three I believe).