Galway United and the FAI are both backing the development of young players through the the Galway & District Football League.
The league’s Youth Development Programme, launched this week, will see both the FAI and Galway United supporting the league in the preparation of underage representative squads in the coming months.
League chairman Tony Samuels said the support would ensure that higher standards were delivered in terms of coaching and preparation of Galway’s best underage talent, while the FAI’s community development officer, Jim Noone, said the initiative complemented the FAI’s emerging talent programme.
“It gives us an opportunity to support improved standards in terms of preparation of emerging quality players,” he said.
Galway United manager, Jeff Kenna, said: “The Galway and District League Youth Development Programme is critical to the future success of Galway United. One only has to look at the impact players such as John Russell, Vinny Faherty, Seamus Conneely, Jason Molloy, and Jonathan Keane are having in the current set up. We look forward to working with the squad managers and coaches in the coming months.”
Under the plan this year each club in the league has been invited to appoint a football development co-ordinator or head coach to improve communication and development on football development issues.
Squad Managers/Coaches 2008-09:U-18, Pat Turke, Sean McGlynn, Derek O’Loughlin; U-16, Brian Laffey and Padraic Fadden; U-15, Bartley Barrett and Joe Keating; U-14, John Ludden and Donal Devery; U-13, John Power, Terry Lee, Bartley Barrett; U-12, Ginger Collins, Bartley Barrett; U-11, Gabriel Darcy, Cathal Naughton.
