It has been a great few weeks for a number of our Youth Academy teams who had the fantastic opportunity to participate as players on the FAI’s UEFA B and UEFA A Courses. Not only did the players learn a huge amount, they also got coached by some high profile current and ex-professional players plus some very high level coaches.

The UEFA Licence coach education courses delivered by the FAI are highly regarded as amongst the best UEFA Licence courses in Europe which means that they attract some very high level coaches from all over the world. Of course, as previously mentioned, it also means that they attract some big name players who are all looking to advance their skills and knowledge as a coach with the possibility of a future career in the game as a coach.

The invite for our players to participate in the courses came about due to our great relationship with the FAI coaching staff. It was an invite our Head of Youth Development Paul Fogarty couldn't’t turn down;

“We have an excellent relationship with the FAI Coach Education staff. They have helped a lot of our coaches and indeed myself qualify to a higher standard, so it was an immediate ‘yes’ to any help that they asked for. That said, it wasn’t only due to our excellent relationship that we took up the offer-  there is also the fact that our teams will be exposed to some fantastic coaches from all over Ireland and indeed the world. For me it is a no brainer; we get to help an organization that has helped us a lot and also helps to maintain a fantastic relationship and we also get to expose our players to some excellent coaching so they can all advance themselves as players”.

The FAI were also delighted with the help and assistance provided by Shelbourne FC Youth Academy with FAI Coach Education Manager, Greig Paterson having this to say;

“The Youth Academy players from Shelbourne FC have really been a fantastic addition to our courses this summer and have been an absolute pleasure to work with. All the players we have used have had fantastic ability, but more noticeable was their excellent attitude to learning and being coached which shows they come from a great environment where good coaching, and being good learners themselves, is a priority.  Most, if not all, of our course students have commended the players on their ability, behavior, attitude and application as it really helps them to deliver to their sessions in what is already a pressured environment for them. It has been a pleasure to work with all involved at Shelbourne FC Youth Academy and we are, without doubt, looking forward to working with them on our courses again”.

It really is an exciting time to be a Shelbourne FC Youth Academy player. From the clear and successful pathway, to the FAI’s Elite League of Ireland Underage Leagues and the on-going fantastic relationship with the FAI, there are huge opportunities for players to develop into fantastic footballers for the future.

Thanks to all the players from our Under 14, Under 15 and the Under 17 Elite LOI teams who all represented the club excellently over the past few weeks. Thanks also to all of the FAI Coach Education staff; Greig Paterson, Jason Donohue, Tom O’Connor, Colin O’Brien, Stephen McNutt and Niall Harrison; they have provided a fantastic coach education programme over the years, and Shelbourne FC Youth Academy are delighted to play a part in the success of that. 

Feel free to have a look through pictures and see if you can name any of the famous faces!