Originally Posted by
redron
In coversation with a fan of another club the other day (he had seen this thread and was wondering what was going on), my memory was jogged on the origins of this whole problem.
If any of you are involved with any of the clubs affected by Limerick FC entering this Under 16 team, I urge you to have a discussion with whoever your club delegate to the LDSL was in 2008/2009/2010 (I can't remember exactly when this was).
By the way, it is part of the UEFA Licencing criteria that clubs competing in the League of Ireland must have a youth development programme.
To the best of my knowledge, Limerick FC originally did not want to enter teams to compete against already established clubs in the Schoolboys' League, but rather wanted to form an alliance/partnership with the LDSL which would have entailed developing and running a 'centre of excellence' type thingy to develop squads for the league representative sides.
A proposal was put to a delegate meeting of the LDSL, and was rejected.
So, in order to fulfil its obligation to build a youth development programme, Limerick FC then applied for membership of the LDSL, which was duly granted (this was probably just a formality, as I don't think the league would have been allowed to exclude the club). I think Limerick FC's first participation in the league was in the small sided games 2010-11.
If anyone can clarify any of the details of the above, I'd be grateful.
On a slight aside, I'm led to believe that at certain times in the past Limerick FC had a reserve side competing in the junior league, as well as under 18 and under 17 teams, also competing in the local leagues.