fai.ie Highly respected eircom National League President, Michael Hyland, will stand down from his post as the supremo of the country's top domestic competition early next year after an incredible near 50 year voluntary service to the game he has always loved.
Hyland (72), will depart from his post at the League's AGM in Dublin in February and that means he will also say farewell to his role as one of the FAI's top five administrators at their annual meeting in June.
The popular Dubliner is rightly proud of his long term involvement of the progressive Dublin Athletic Union League between 1969 and 1994 and also as President of that long-established capital of football excellence for a record 19 years,
Hyland then moved up to senior level was then an instrumental figure in guiding his then 22 League of Ireland clubs to the formation of a ten-team Premier Division set-up with 12 sides in the First Division. As a President of the National League since 1994, Hyland has worked non-stop for the development of grounds and facilities for the 22 clubs under his jurisdiction.
During his four year term of office as FAI President, it was Hyland who concluded a deal for £2,500,000 (Stg.) with the English FA to allow all League of Ireland clubs to have floodlights. That was part of a television deal to compensate Irish clubs from the all too obvious threat of live screening of English games.
But perhaps Hyland's greatest revolutionary idea came to fruition just two years ago when he persuaded many reluctant clubs that a move to summer football might be the answer to dwindling gate receipts at domestic games.
"Our friends in the Welsh FA League have taken notice. Now I think that they may be following our example. There are so many good things that have taken place in recent years - like the new Under 21 League for eircom League teams," said Hyland.
"The whole summer soccer situation is bound to help all our National League teams and players - especially in those big Champions League and UEFA Cup games when the Scandinavians have always enjoyed superior fitness in July and August."
