Education: Life Beyond Soccer - #1 An Overview

One in three of our members have a third level degree, one in five have no qualifications beyond the Junior Certificate.”

Stark words from the PFAI’s Stephen McGuinness, when discussing the results of the most recent survey of professional footballers in the Republic of Ireland, in conversation with extratime.ie.

As a young player in the League of Ireland there are many choices to be made regarding both a footballing career and a life after the boots have been hung up.

In the words of McGuinness himself: “You’re only one injury away from being finished as a footballer.”

So what are the options available to young footballers in the league today?

For those playing at League of Ireland clubs at under-17 or under-19 level and don’t know whether to go a third level institution or try their hand at the bright lights of soccer abroad in the hope that they’ll secure a contract that will provide them with financial security for life, this set of articles is for you.

McGuinness speaks of the value of the under-17 or under-19 league as providing a pathway for the young footballer to make a first team as well as continuing to develop their education.

Previously, if an offer to go to an English club was offered to a teenager it made sense for them to try their luck and if it didn’t work out then they could come back to Ireland and attempt to build a career out of the League of Ireland.

Now it’s different, in the words of the 2002 FAI Cup winner: 'every contract in the League of Ireland is earned.”

So what are the options available to that Under 17 or Under 19 footballer today?



Overview of Third Level Options

Mark Scanlon (FAI National Coordinator for Schools, Colleges and Universities)

A broad overview of how the FAI links with educational outlets from primary school until third level complete with a link to a booklet produced by the FAI covering many of the options currently available for students intending to attend third level institutions

UCD Sports Scholarship- Ian Ryan (UCD Assistant Manager)

A sports scholarship programme is run by many third level institutions throughout the Republic of Ireland: some have direct scholarship programmes with clubs, others require an elite standard of your chosen sport and an interview determines the sportspeople who receive the awards.

One of the most well known and longest running scholarship schemes in the League of Ireland is that run by UCD and the first in this series concentrates on their programme courtesy of an interview with assistant manager Ian Ryan.



USA Scholarships- Steven Beattie (North Kentucky University and Cork City)

Scholarship opportunities are also available in the United States of America and we spoke to Cork City’s double winning right back Steven Beattie about his experience at North Kentucky University and how he developed his education in the classroom and on the pitch stateside.

FAI/ETB, Sports Management in Carlow IT, Careers in the FAI- Michéal Schlingermann (Sligo Rovers)

If you’re after a more practical based approach that combines both football and education and serves somewhat of a bridging step between the Leaving Certificate and a Level 7/8 degree course, the FAI run an FAI/ETB programme which allows players to develop their skills as well as providing students with the opportunity to study for coaching and fitness badges.

One of the first graduates of the course was Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Micháel Schlingermann who spoke to us about the pathway this course provided for him to develop his footballing career as well as carving out a career in the FAI.

IT Carlow, in conjunction with the FAI, offer a degree course in Sports Management while also allowing participants to obtain their coaching badges up to UEFA ‘B’ Licence standard.

Degree Course while playing in LOI- Brian Gartland (Dundalk FC)

Alternately, as is the case with other footballers currently playing in the League of Ireland, it is possible to combine a full time degree course while carving out a successful career. Dundalk’s Brian Gartland- owner of BGB- obtained his degree in Business Management at UCD while playing with Bray Wanderers and Shelbourne as a teenager. He spoke to extratime.ie to discuss his experiences and how he combines building his basketball coaching business alongside playing for one of the most successful sides in the league.

Leaving Certificate (PE Programme), Academy Concept, Interprovincials- Fintan Sheridan (Leinster Assistant Manager)

Staying in school and completing a Leaving Certificate is of paramount importance in order to access any third level institution. The PFAI provide access to an online course in Sports Management for their members and, according to McGuinness, one of the stumbling blocks to some of their members enrolling on the course is that they haven’t achieved the level of formal education needed.

Leinster Schoolboys successful Assistant Manager and secondary school teacher Fintan Sheridan took the time to explain to us how important it is to finish secondary school education, while also speaking about the high standard of football at secondary schools level and the opportunities to represent your school, province and country while still at school.

Degree Course while playing in WNL- James O’Callaghan (Peamount United and Maynooth University Manager)

James O’Callaghan is the current Peamount United and Maynooth University Women’s Team manager and he spoke to us about how to carve out a successful career in the Women’s National League while simultaneously adding to their education. The former Monaghan United player is a former Under 16 manager with Peamount and told us how important education is when discussing Women’s football in Ireland.

Third Level Options in Cork- Dr Seán O’Conaill (UCC and Cork City)

Cork City may be currently sponsored by University College Cork but Law lecturer at the college, Seán O’Conaill explains that there exists much more to the link than merely a name on the front of the jersey. O’Conaill was one of the men responsible for writing education into the constitution of Cork City and is actively involved in the scholarship programme which exists between the club and college.

Dundalk FC/DKIT Scholarship- Jack O’Keefe (Dundalk FC Under 19)

Jack O’Keefe scored the winning goal in the Under 19 McGuill Cup Final last season. We spoke to him about his life on and off the pitch and how he came to end up as a scholarship student on the Sports Exercise and Business degree at DKIT.

Soccer Coaching and Business Management- Kyle Ferguson (Ulster University)

Kyle Ferguson was a Performance Analyst with Northern Ireland Under 17s and Under 19s before heading to New Zealand to hone his skills further. He returned to Northern Ireland to become Course Director of Ulster University’s Football Coaching and Business Management degree course. We had a chat with him about the programme, its strong links with the IFA and the focus on achieving employment for graduates.

Education and the PFAI- Stephen McGuinness (PFAI General Secretary)

We talked to the former league (St Patrick’s Athletic) and FAI Cup winner (Dundalk) about the opportunities provided by the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland for its members and the importance of continuing to develop both a football and education career in parallel.

Dual Careers and the League of Ireland- Stephen Finn (Department of Sport)

In a diverse career where football has been at the core throughout, Stephen Finn has seen many players pass from youth team players and right through the League of Ireland. He has worked as a journalist, within the FAI and is now working in the Department of Sport where he is involved in policy change. His views on education, the importance of the national league and the possibility of creating stronger community partnerships between League of Ireland clubs and educational institutions are worth reading.

The Academy Structure and the importance of the League of Ireland for the National Team- Dave Robertson (former Peterborough United Academy coach and current Director of Football at Drogheda United)

Employed in a Football League Academy for almost a decade, Robertson has an deep understanding of how important it is to keep involved with education while playing soccer. His Peterborough United Academy was one of the first in England and he spoke to us about how important the strength of the national league is in the development of the national side.

Education and the Media - The Independent Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney

   Miguel Delaney has had a meteoric rise to his current London-based position as Chief Football Correspondent at The Independent. His own education began with a degree in Journalism at DIT, progressing to a Masters in         Politics at UCD while he worked at The Tribune and he is an advocate of developing skills ‘in the field’ as well as in the classroom. He has encountered footballers throughout Europe and beyond so is in a good position to         judge the effects of education on modern professional soccer players as well as give advice to any aspiring journalists. 

Education and Educating - St Patrick's Athletic footballer Conan Byrne

               Conan Byrne has been a League of Ireland legend for over a decade and he tells us how he began his senior League of Ireland career at UCD and how his degree helped him at Sporting Fingal. He has recently returned to the classroom as a teacher and shares his story of  the importance of education with us.

Education and Dedication - Peamount United and Ireland striker Amber Barrett

               Fresh from an outstanding season in 2017 where she scooped major individual awards, played at the World University Games and made her senior international debut, Amber Barrett is also embarking upon a Master's degree in DCU after spending three years at Maynooth University. Here she speaks to extratime.ie about juggling everything and the importance of hard work.

From poacher to gamekeeper- Alan Murphy (Galway Utd player/Under 17s manager)

Galway United’s record goalscorer began life in the League of Ireland as a student himself, balancing his education and his playing career before breaking record transfer fees and now goalscoring marks on his return to the Tribesmen. Currently a teacher at St Joseph’s College in Galway, Alan also manages Connacht Schoolboys and Galway United Under 17s, while continuing his impressive career- now in the centre of Galway’s midfield.

Schoolboy success sets the foundation- William O’Connor (Ireland Schoolboys Manager/Finn Harps coach)

Ireland Schoolboys were victorious in the Centenary Shield this year under the stewardship of Donegal native O’Connor. The Balbriggan Community College teacher is also a coach with Finn Harps so he has first-hand experience of the importance schoolboy football plays in a player’s development.

Third Level Thoughts- Greg Yelverton (Irish Colleges and Universities/UCC Coach)

UCC’s Greg Yelverton recently guided the Irish Colleges and Universities Team to a victory over a top rated France side. Following victory over a Scottish Universities side at Oriel Park in March, he spoke to extratime.ie about the quality of football at third level in Ireland and how it provides opportunities for both clubs and players to develop.

The Value of Life Long Learning- Jimmy Mowlds (FAI RDO/Bohemians Under 17 Manager)

Bohemians Under 17s manager and FAI Regional Development Officer Jimmy Mowlds has recently earned his UEFA Youth ‘A’ Certificate following a Certificate in Football Management from Lausanne University. He’s about to enter the second year of a Psychology degree in NCI and hopes to use his experience and qualifications to guide players and their holistic development.

Bringing the club into the classroom- John Russell (FAI RDO/Westport Utd Manager)

The former league title winning midfielder has been involved in a community role at both St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers where he designed a programme which educated pupils about such topics as racism and nutrition as well as taking part in structured coaching lessons and meeting players from their local League of Ireland clubs. Incidentally, Russell was also on the recent pioneering UEFA Youth Course with Mowlds.