Harps Set To Launch New Academy
Plans are at an advanced stage for the launch of a new Academy of soccer which will be run by Finn Harps in conjunction with the Co. Donegal Schoolboys organisation.
The academy will be for players from the ages of 12-16 years of age and Harps hope to organise the coaching of players at a host of grounds around the county.
Negotiations between the Ballybofey club and the Donegal Schoolboys organisation have been ongoing for up to six months now. And according to Harps' new commercial manager, Ian Curristan, the Academy should be up and running by the summer.
"The club did have an underage academy back when Charlie McGeever was manager," Mr. Curristan explained.
"It was organised by Declan McIntyre and his coaches but from day one, there were a number of difficulties. Our main problem was a lack of a suitable venue, but this time around, we are hoping to take our coaches out around the county."
Mr. Curristan insists the return of the academy is not something that is needed under the new UEFA Licence requirements.
"This is a two-way thing," he explained. "Obviously Harps will get a chance to work with the best of the talent that's out there at underage level but the players themselves will benefit from the coaching they will receive. "It's critical that this is organised to the satisfaction of everyone. The structures for underage soccer in this county are improving all the time and this can only help improve it further."
Harps will make attempts to attract a major sponsor for the new academy and it's understood the new project could be officially launched by the end of March.
