Talents on and off the pitch - Education and Careers Programme launched by Cavan Monaghan FC

'We see you as talents on and off the pitch, it’s important to make plans for a life outside football'.

A striking line from the opening workshop of the pilot Education and Careers Programme launched by Cavan Monaghan FC in September.

Established to link in with the club’s under-15 players currently competing in the SSE Airtricity Elite Underage Leagues, the programme was set up to help young players become aware of the necessity to prepare for a life outside the game. 

Underpinning the presentation was current research on the underage leagues carried out by this writer  and published in an academic paper last June.

his research found that less than one in seven of those who played in the opening games of the revised under-19 (2014) and under-17 (2015) leagues remained in the league for the start of the 2020 League of Ireland season. 

Allied to this is the fact that slightly less than one in six of the 2019 League of Ireland players were simultaneously playing college football (approximately 90 out of 580).

Combining this with the fact that ten of the eleven starters in the last Europa League game contested by a League of Ireland club had prepared for a life outside football with a degree, certificate or apprenticeship and it becomes obvious as to the importance of planning for the future.

With this in mind, Cavan Monaghan FC have created what the club feel is a unique and groundbreaking programme.

As well as engaging with players as to their aspirations outside the game and their awareness as how to achieve their off field goals, the intention is to provide workshops on issues such as Mental Health and Well-being, Self Reflection and Taking Ownership, Developing Study Skills, Filling out CAO forms and subject choices for Leaving Certificate.

The Cavan Monaghan region has long been an area capable of producing talented footballers - senior internationals such as Jonathan Douglas and Cillian Sheridan, Mark Connolly (Dundee Utd) and Aaron McCarey (Dundalk) had distinguished under-21 careers while exciting League of Ireland prospects Bradley Okaidja (Athlone Town), Aaron McCabe (Longford Town), Colin McCabe (Shelbourne) and Seán McEvoy (Bray Wanderers) are other examples.

As well as the League of Ireland talents, the Emerging Talent Programme in the area continues to develop potential prospects in the region. 

Former Monaghan United players from the local area are carving out impressive careers for themselves off the field with Clones native Paul Shiels - also a former Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Dublin City midfielder - a senior manager in the financial services sector, while Monaghan Town's versatile defender Paul Whelan also has works in the same industry. 

A former team mate of 'Whelo' is goalkeeper Ronan McGann who is currently a lecturer in TU Dublin and coaching Dundalk FC's Academy goalkeepers.

Another Dundalk link is to be found in the shape of Paul Smyth, the former striker at both Gortakeegan and Oriel Park, is now the co-ordinator of the FAI-ETB Education Course running in Dundalk and is involved in the pilot Education and Careers Programme alongside his brother, Darren who is the vice chair of the Schoolboys league in the area.

This Education and Careers Programme is intended to marry the wealth of talented player development pathways in the area with up to date, practical research and workshops which aim to engage players with their own off field development and take ownership of aspects of their lives where they can help shape their own futures in a similar manner to those role models who have gone before.

Longford Town boss Daire Doyle delighted as his side keep their promotion dreams alive https://t.co/3YNI6TkAtLpic.twitter.com/KzFcM5gvax

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 31, 2020