LoI Academies

**legendz** · 03/03/2025, 8:31 PM

The FAI are to launch a centralised coaching scheme to rectify disparity.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...summer%20block.

The FAI will next month begin a centralised in-house national development training programme by assembling 250 of the best aged 14-17 at Abbotstown. The intention is to bridge the contact time deficit between Ireland and similar-sized European competitors.

**culloty82** · 03/03/2025, 8:41 PM

Will be interesting to see how they'll keep tabs on players at clubs like Wexford and Longford - will the criteria be purely based on results, or will coaches at each team be encouraged to nominate who they consider to be their most promising talents?

**Elfman** · 04/03/2025, 3:27 PM

Good point and an interesting announcement from the FAI. On one hand I'm glad they're not just completely outsourcing development to the clubs. On the other hand, given how tight budgets are, I think I'd prefer to see them trying to grow the game to more places rather than focusing on the top, top talent. But it's not a bad thing I suppose.

To answer your question Culloty, and considering how players are not guaranteed their spot for a full season/year, I'd say this would be very much results based.

**Elfman** · 05/03/2025, 2:22 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Marc Canham was saying for player development, there are three types of models:

1. A small country - really small - where the association runs that player development. You have a national academy where all the best players come and train every day.

2. A bigger country like Germany, Spain or England. They have a really developed professional game and professional clubs, where their players train and they come to the international programme 40-50 days a year. Clubs take a lead on professional development.

3. Is where the FAI are at the moment � requiring a hybrid between them and the clubs.

Over time, he is saying the FAI want clubs to take more responsibility for that development but at the moment they need to work together.

Thanks for sharing the Irish Examiner link legendz. I saw your post in the National League thread and thought I'd respond here in case we get rebuked for derailing the topic with our interest in the academies!

I like how Canham has described the 3 models but I'd think we should be considered a small nation due to the historical underdevelopment of talent at a national level. The only drawback is I wouldn't want to hand over the running of it solely to the FAI!

Personally, I think you'd want to get to a place where the current nursery clubs have a more healthy relationship with the senior clubs so they can develop local talent but are adequately compensated when the best players leave for the underage setup in the senior clubs. This might mean permanent sell-on clauses if the player goes abroad (so nurseries don't lose out if a 16 year old switches clubs within Ireland before going abroad) as I'm struggling to see what else senior clubs can provide them.

As for the FAI, I like their plan for the 250 players to increase contact hours but I think they'll need to do more to get the �10m from the government that is needed for the rest of the country's youth.

**Buckett** · 13/04/2025, 2:49 PM

Athlone U14's beat Sligo 13-0 today. That's a bizarre result to see in an elite league.

**legendz** · 06/04/2026, 2:47 PM

https://x.com/i/status/2041094801081208961

Plans for a new League of Ireland team in Meath are to be revealed this week. Their aim is to start in the LOI underage leagues from 2027.

**Nesta99** · 06/04/2026, 6:42 PM

Would have thought a club playing out of Navan could be achieved on a quicker timeline. Underage LoI teams should really have a link up with a senior LoI side to complete the player development pathway and indeed play them if they are good enough when still eligible for underage grades. Plenty of examples at Dundalk recently Leonard, Spaight today playing while still able to play at 17s and looks quite comfortable (taken off at HT today but was playing well so maybe injury or tactical). Not having that access to senior levels could hold the really good players and early physical developers back a bit.

Ive a nephew playing with St Kevins, well thought of although still only 13, lives in Navan but is a big Dundalk fan, it would suit him perfectly to have schoolboys, access to LoI level and a pathway to senior. He has a chance and Im obviously biased on where Id want to see him end up.

**legendz** · 07/04/2026, 5:20 PM

https://x.com/i/status/2041277677143769096

Going over old ground - Kerry and Mayo have a good history of representation football going as far back as the Eircom U21 League and the League Cup.
Meath don't have that history. Thought it would have been a district league club emerging to represent their region. If they think establishing a new club is required, the youth leagues are the place to start.
It'll be a positive step for the youth leagues anyway to have a more geographical spread.
There was some political talk in Clare of getting the right people talking. Meath might turn out to be something of a blueprint for Clare to follow. Haven't heard anything from Tipperary. The FAI should have the aspiration of getting more regions involved in the youth leagues, more in an advisory capacity than anything. Regions have to drive it on themselves.