Warm Mayo welcome for €3 million boost to League of Ireland academies

GOVERNMENT announcement of a €3 million investment in the development of League of Ireland academies has been celebrated locally with news that it will fund full-time academy staff based in Umbro Park, Milebush.

The multi-annual investment, announced by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport during today’s budget aims to professionalise coaching, enhance player development and create sustainable pathways for young Irish talent.

Castlebar native and FAI CEO David Courell described the funding as “an important step in building the structures Irish football needs to compete internationally and to strengthen the game in communities across the country.”

Mayo Senator Mark Duffy said the investment will be “transformational” for Irish football and particularly for Mayo FC, which has made major progress in its short history.

“This will allow each club-based academy to appoint full-time staff, professionalise coaching and create a viable football industry in Ireland,” he said.

“For Mayo FC, it’s a game changer offering the best coaches full-time roles and giving local players a real pathway to success.”

Senator Duffy added that Brexit had ended the old model of exporting talent to England. “Now is the time to build proper academies at home,” he said.

Mayo FC Chairman and Independent councillor Joe Faughnan welcomed the announcement as “a landmark day for Irish soccer,” noting that over 50 new academy roles will be created nationwide.

“This is a huge boost for Mayo FC and will have a major impact on what we can achieve. It’s the start of a new dawn for the club,” he said, thanking Will Clarke, Pat Duffy and Mark Scanlon for their work in driving the project.