The Finn Harps Academy reached another milestone on Tuesday night as the first young female footballers attended a trial session at the Academy’s training facility in Killygordon.
The team will be managed by former Chelsea player and Academy stalwart Chantelle Grant.
Founded in 2012 as the Finn Harps Development Squad, the Finn Harps Academy works in conjunction with local clubs to provide high quality coaching to young local players.
Growing from 25 players in a single group in its opening season, this year will see 6 groups with a total of 165 players involved.
The Academy is run by just under 20 highly qualified and experienced coaches. No fewer than 6 of these coaches previously played in the academy in its early years, later returning to help bring more players through.
2 players from early groups, Mark Coyle and Oisin Hassett, have already featured in the Harps first team, while Simon McGlynn was in a later academy intake.
The likes of Conor McDermott (Derry City) and Declan Sharkey (Galway United) have also come through in recent years.
Many other players have progressed into the club’s U17 and U19 teams and graduates will also form the basis of the U15 squad.
Last year the Academy signed a six year lease on training grounds at Killygordon and since then has been working to improve the facilities there. As well as the many coaches involved, vital administrative support is provided by the likes of Michael Grant, Martika Grant, Sharon Grant, Dougie Mc Nulty Sr and Darren Kibbler.
Harps Academy teams regularly compete in the likes of the Foyle and Galway Cups. Harps U13s made the final of the Galway cup last year, losing out to Colorado Rapids. Harps academy members have also undertaken trips such as the recent visit by the provisional Harps U15 squad to Reading FC and a previous squad visit to Manchester City.
There is still time to register girls for trials with the Academy for girls born in 2005/06 and you can do so by contacting academyfinnharps@gmail.com.
Tags: