Former Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea was the special guest at the recent launch of the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course which is run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The course gives TY students an opportunity to sample full-time football training while also fulfilling their educational requirements and obtaining qualifications in coaching and fitness training.
The 2020-21 course was officially launched by Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Daniel Whooley, FAI President Gerry McAnaney and Fingal Co Co’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly at a special ceremony in Corduff Sports Centre where the course is based.
O’Shea, who won 118 international caps, is one of Ireland’s most successful footballers ever, took part in a Q&A session during which he imparted plenty of sound advice to the young students who travel every day to Corduff from across the county.
Ireland U21 assistant coach and former international player, O’Shea said: “It was a pleasure to meet all the students and coaches at Corduff and to help them celebrate the launch of the sixth year of the Football and Fitness Transition Year course. Council.” He noted he would have loved to have such an opportunity available to me when he was their age.
Over the course of the 2021-22 school year, the 25 Transition Year students participating in the programme will mix academic subjects such as Maths and English with a range of football coaching courses and modules in Fitness Instruction, Media Skills and Personal Development as well as football training and strength and conditioning work. In addition, the participants will undertake an ITEC Fitness Instructors Course delivered by Litton Lane Fitness Training. They will also return to their local primary school one day a week to work with teachers in the delivery of physical education and gain valuable work experience.
FAI President, Gerry McAnaney said: “The transition year programme at Corduff offers an excellent opportunity for those players on the course to further their football career in tandem with their education. It is an exemplary programme that we would love to expand on across the country.
“Our thanks to Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Fingal County Council for their ongoing support for this wonderful programme and my thanks to our FAI staff for their commitment to the development of these young players.”
The programme is jointly delivered by Fingal Co Co’s Sports Office and the FAI, with assistance from Empower Blanchardstown. Sport Ireland and previous courses have been extremely well-attended with an impressive average attendance rate of 95% throughout the school year being recorded.
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