Andrews on the ball in Corduff for launch

FORMER Ireland international, Keith Andrews, was at Corduff Community Centre last week to launch a course that helps Transition Year students learn soccer skills.

Now in its second year, the Football Development Course is backed by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland.

The 2017-18 programme was officially launched by ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder Andrews who won 35 Ireland caps, along with Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley, Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive Paul Reid, and FAI Vice President, Donal Conway.

Over the course of the school year, the 26 students participating in the programme will mix academic subjects such as Maths and English with coaching courses.

There are also modules in Fitness Instruction, Media Skills and Personal Development as well as football training and fitness work.

In addition, the participants will undertake an ITEC Fitness Instructors Course delivered by Litton Lane Fitness Training.

The students will also return to their local school once a week to work with teachers in physical education and gain work experience.

“Participants from last year’s programme were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in football for a year while also meeting their educational needs,” said course co-ordinator, Denis Hyland.

“Following this success, the second year is designed to allow the students to commit to the development of their football skills as well as engaging with their communities without compromising their education.” 

The programme is being jointly delivered with assistance from Blanchardstown Area Partnership as well as local schools who have released the students to the course for the year.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Mary McCamley praised the programme and said it has proven hugely beneficial to local residents.

“Education and sport are both demanding and important to young people,” she added.

“I’m delighted to see the implementation of a programme that allows participants to pursue their passion without sacrificing their educational opportunities.”

Fingal County Council Chief Executive Paul Reid said the first year of the course had shown the benefits that can be reaped when there is investment put into the young people of Fingal.

“Not only are they developing the skills to balance sport with education, they are given the opportunity to engage with the community through weekly work experience which, as we have seen, contributes positively to their overall personal development,” he continued.

Vice-President of the Football Association of Ireland, Donal Conway echoed the Chief Executive’s comments.

“The FAI fully supports this programme and its participants,” he said.

“The course has been able to offer talented young footballers an opportunity to pursue their football ambitions in a setting that also promotes their wider educational development.”

The course ran last year in partnership and with the support of Blanchardstown Area Partnership and Sport Ireland. It was well attended and recorded an impressive average attendance rate of 93 per cent throughout the school year.