Matt Doherty makes donation to Cabra's FAI ETB Programme

Republic of Ireland and Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back Matt Doherty has made a donation to Cabra’s FAI ETB centre.

The donation will see Gestifute, the agency which represents Doherty, cover the cost of new IT and training equipment for the Cabra course which will be of great benefit to the young players who are now in the position that Matt once was.

The defender, who grew up in Cabra has been in excellent form for Premier League outfit Wolves this season, scoring four goals and helping his team to 12 clean sheets in the 2019/2020 campaign.

Doherty, who had a spell at Bohemians before his move across the water in 2010 is a graduate of the programme, which gives the participants a sense of what playing full-time football is like while also giving them a chance to attain some educational qualifications.

Other graduates of the programme include Irish internationals Kevin Long and Enda Steves who have featured prominently in the Premier League in recent weeks.

FAI-ETB Cabra Course Coordinator, Harry McCue who was also in his role when Doherty graduated spoke of his appreciation after hearing about the donation.

"It’s really great that Matt has remembered the opportunity which our course gave him to train full-time and I believe it had a big influence on improving his game and helped him to reach the fitness levels required to get to the next stage of his career,” McCue told FAI.ie.

"It’s worked out well for Matt and we’re delighted for him. This gesture he has now made via his agency will provide some great resources for the lads we have now who are looking to be the next Matt Doherty,” he added.

A representative of Gestifute International in Dublin, Andy Quinn, commented on the Gestifute Group’s delight on being able to help the development programme.

“The Gestifute  group is delighted to be associated with a community based project which encourages, nurtures and provides young people with an opportunity to further develop their sporting and educational perspectives which may otherwise be difficult to reach," Quinn explained to FAI.ie.