Anniversary dinner held at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim
February 24, 2018
FAI Schools celebrated a remarkable milestone in the history of the Association this weekend with a 50th Anniversary.
The foundations of schools football can be traced as far back as the late fifties but under the guidance of the late Tom Ticher and Dr. Tony O’Neill the establishment of Irish Schools began in 1968/69.
In the early 70's there were a handful of primary and post primary schools enjoying structured regular football during the academic season.
Fifty years on and the Schools fraternity boasts a membership of 80,000 students participating in primary and post primary schools nationwide. The range of activities is immense, from grassroots initiatives such as the Primary 5s, 16 National Cups, various provincial league competitions and elite football with the Centenary Shield and Bob Docherty Cup squads.
The organisation continues to excel amongst their international rivals as both the Republic of Ireland teams at Under 18 Boys level and Under 15 Girls grade are reigning Champions in their Home Nations tournaments.
Since the inception of the International programme of events in 2003, the Republic of Ireland have captured the Centenary Shield title seven times while the girls have clinched the crown six times since 2002.
The Schools entity has witnessed the emergence of International superstars such as Aine O’Gorman, Julie Ann Russell, Karen Duggan, Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Campbell and more recently young guns Tyler Toland and Jessica Ziu. Similarly John O’Shea, Noel Hunt, Stephen Ward, Seamus Coleman, Seán Maguire and Alan Browne were all capped for FAI Schools over the years.
Summerhill College, Sligo were the dominant force in schools football in the late sixties capturing an outstanding four in a row at National senior level. More recently Carndonagh Community School are the driving force with two appearances in the last three Dr. Tony O’Neill National Cup Finals. The Ulster outfit won two of the three with St. Francis College, Rochestown outdoing their supremacy in 2017.
Notably Eureka Secondary Schools, Kells completed a three in a row in the early 90s and continued to impress in the other girls divisions. Presentation Secondary School, Thurles are the reigning Senior Girls Cup Champions and continue to impose themselves at all levels of the female game.
The expansion of the Primary 5s programme is the real success story over the decade with a 137% rise in participation figures which has 41% female participation. There are 1,700 schools participating in the blitz day format competition which will see 36,000 students lacing up their boots in 2019.
Seán Carr, Chairman of FAI Schools is very proud of the extensive programme of football that the Association delivers at all levels of the game. Speaking at this weekend’s event he said: "Schools football is very much dependent on the very many teachers around the country that volunteer of their time to ensure that their students can benefit from their involvement in the sport as well as to continue their academics.
"We are reliant on the good will and dedication of teachers to administer, co-ordinate and coach our students to provide the best opportunities to complement their educational syllabus and we are very grateful for their contribution over the years."
FAI President Donal Conway said: "It is a tremendous achievement for FAI Schools to reach its 50th anniversary and a lot of credit should go to visionaries like Tom Ticher and Dr Tony O'Neill, to dedicated personnel like Alex Harkin, Mairead Collins, Fergus McDaid, Robert Moran, and Nixton Morton, and also to the many volunteers who have made a positive impact.
"Also, a lot of credit should go to Joe Boyle, Gerard Dunne, Mark Scanlon, Diane Fay, and Dylan Maguire for their work behind the scenes in keeping the organisation moving forward over the years.
"Through my involvement with FAI Schools, which stretches to over three decades now, I have seen first-hand how the organisation has continued to evolve and provide a platform for children to excel and enjoy the game of football - and that is the most important thing."
