KDFL launches a player development initiative
OVER 70 top young players from the Kildare and District Football League gathered at Station Road, courtesy of Newbridge Town FC, for the launch of the league’s “Development Squad” on Saturday.
The project, which has been on the drawing board for the past three months, has been put in place with the aim of improving the standard of football throughout the Kildare Nationalist Soccer League and bringing Inter-league honours to the Kildare within a three to five year time frame.
League Chairman Michael Casey, addressing the launch meeting, said “that the emphasis since the foundation of the league had been on growth and bringing soccer to all areas of the region but now it is time to move on in a professional manner to develop the skills of the players”.
He paid tribute to the great work done by the KDSL Schoolboy Academy and said that the new initiative would be a continuation of the Academy’s work after the players were no longer eligible to compete at schoolboy level.
Casey continued: “We have a unique integrated approach to the game in Kildare, with the Schoolboys and Junior Leagues and the Senior Kildare County Club having a close working relation-ship and superb co-operation, which gives all aspiring players a clear career path in the game.”
The emphasis is on play-ers in the 17-23 age group and the current squad has been selected after countywide trials. Over 30 clubs are represented on the squad. Newly-appointed Director of Football Thomas Donnolly, who will oversee the project, pointed out that entry to the squad was by no means closed and that clubs should come forward with the names of suitable players. He said that the clubs would benefit from the professional coaching that the squad players would receive, thus raising the all-round standard. Assisting Donnolly will be Vincent Donnery from Robertstown, a former League of Ireland player, who will have responsibility for identifying talented players in the North of the County. Noel Moran of Newbridge will perform the same duty in the central area and in the South of the county, Eddie Hennessy from Athy will do likewise. In addition, the league will use the services of UEFA coach Bobby Smith, who formerly coached Bray Wanderers and is currently involved with the KDSL schoolboy academy.
Apart from having their football skills honed the squad members will be instructed in preparation, treatment of football injuries, injury prevention and damage limitation etc. Michael Neville of Straffan, the league’s paramedic will be in charge of this area.
Sessions will be held weekly throughout the year, including the closed season. During the Summer and early Autumn grass facilities will be used but in order to avoid cancellations due to inclement weather, the squad will use the all-weather facility at Kilcullen during late Autumn, Winter and Spring each Friday night.
For more information please contact the league office tel 045-871238, fax 045-875242 or email kildarefl@eircom.net.
