Good news for Hoops fan - Scully is a great manager & his ideas about LOI football are the way forward
Scully takes over Schoolboys as trials announced
Shamrock Rovers Press Release
Scully takes over Schoolboys as trials announced
Press Release Issued : 25 Jun 2007
SCULLY TAKES OVER SCHOOLBOYS AS TRIALS ANNOUNCED
Shamrock Rovers today announced that, in addition to his role as first team manager, Pat Scully will take charge of the senior elements of the club’s Schoolboy section with immediate effect.
This is part of the club’s development strategy to bring an incomparable level of professionalism across all the club’s activities for the benefit of their young footballers.
“It’s a case of building up the structures within the club,” says Scully. "This is a very positive step and the word is out there that Shamrock Rovers is a club building for the future.
“I will be in overall charge of players from under-15 and up but this is only the beginning. Further down the line we will be concentrating on the younger age groups.”
Since Shamrock Rovers amalgamated with Tallaght Town a decade ago, the Schoolboy section has produced many players who made it all the way to the first team.
With Pat Scully and his backroom team now in charge, the aim is to develop the senior Schoolboys in line with Scully’s playing and coaching ethos.
“Look at the current first-team players who’ve already come up through the underage set-up, such as Barry Murphy and Eric McGill,” says Scully.
"Rovers is a great club for young players to come to as they’ll be brought through properly. This club really believes in looking after young players.
“Last year it was a case of getting promoted back to the Premier Division. We achieved that goal, so now it’s important to improve other aspects of the club.”
Part of Shamrock Rovers and Pat Scully’s philosophy is to offer young footballers an alternative to heading over to British clubs at an early age.
As well as providing Scholarship schemes that cover all levels of education from Primary to Third Level, the Hoops are now offering professional coaching to underage players.
“The mood is changing amongst parents,” says Scully. "They’re beginning to see that sending a young lad over to England at 14 or 15 mightn’t be the best thing to do.
"I did it myself, and it’s not a good experience. People can see that the likes of Kevin Doyle, who left Cork City for Reading, did so well because he was that bit older.
“At Shamrock Rovers we will be offering a professional set-up that players and parents can be confident of providing a platform for genuine development.”
"All teams will be coached the same way as the first team. We will also be able to spot potential first team players at an earlier age and develop their potential.
“Players get treated well at Rovers. We’re bringing young lads through to be successful. Besides, we can give young lads everything that an English club can offer.”
Academy
In tandem with Scully’s appointment, Shamrock Rovers are planning to develop its Carolan Park site at Kiltipper into a fully-functioning and self-contained academy.
This is a long-term project that will be completed in several stages. The ultimate aim is to have the best training facilities in the country available to its young players.
The first stage of Kiltipper’s development is currently being planned by the club’s architect and is expected to become a reality within the next 12 months.
“We want it to be the first proper football academy in Ireland,” says Scully. “I feel that the first club to go down this route will also be the first to make a breakthrough in Europe.”
Trials
In the meantime, Shamrock Rovers Schoolboys will be holding trials at Kiltipper and Dodder Valley Park this Sunday, July 1. Pat Scully will be present on the day.
“We’ll be looking for players who maybe played for Shamrock Rovers before but are now at other clubs,” he explains. "Myself and other members of the coaching and playing staff will be there.
“We would encourage all players to come up to Kiltipper on Sunday to take part in these trials,” he adds. “This is a new and exciting dawn for Shamrock Rovers.”
ENDS
Shamrock Rovers FC Schoolboy Trials
On Sunday, July 1st
10.30am: Under 7 (2000) and Under 8 (1999)
12 noon:Under 9 (1998) and Under 10 (1997)
at Dodder Valley Park, Tallaght - opposite Aherne’s on the Old Bawn Road
10.00am: Under 11 (1996) and Under 12 (1995)
11.30am: Under 13 (1994) and Under 14 (1993)
1.00pm: Under 15 (1992) and Under 16 (1991)
2.30pm: Under 17 (1990) and Under 18 (1989)
at Carolan Park, Kiltipper Road, Tallaght