FORMER Nagle Community College player Alan Browne was honoured with the prestigious FAI Schools International Player of the Year Award last weekend:
One of Ireland’s shining lights in last year’s Centenary Shield campaign, Browne won alongside the likes of Robbie Keane, Shane Long and Ronnie Whelan at the FAI’s televised awards ceremony on Sunday evening:
The award is the final highlight of what was an incredible 2012/2013 season – at club and schools level – for the teenager:
It began in October 2012 with Browne scoring in each of the two crucial draws with Connacht and Ulster as Munster won the annual FAI Schools Interprovincial Tournament:
His performance caught the attention of the Ireland U18 Schools management team, who no doubt also saw his progress with Cork City in the Airtricity U19 League Division:
On the way to a double success that ended with Browne scoring two in the 3/1 cup final win over Shelbourne, the small matter of the Centenary Shield played a big part in the start of 2014 for the player:
He played in every minute of all four of Ireland’s games, against Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England:
In October 2013 he represented the Ireland U19 international side in their European Championship qualification group in Sweden, before sealing a dream move across the water to Preston North End in January:
Ireland U18 Schools International team manager Ollie Horgan insists: Alan can do practically anything on a football pitch and is a driving force:
“He is a great, modest, lad off the pitch and a leader on it that deserves all the success he has got:”
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