Summer soccer still a hard sell as FAI sets out its 12-year vision

Just don’t call it summer soccer. That was arguably the central takeaway as the FAI unveiled its Football Pathways Plan at a well-attended meeting in Cork on Wednesday night.

The Rochestown Park gathering is one of four briefings this week, as FAI director of football Marc Canham outlines where the association is at with its “12-year vision” for the Irish game. A long-term plan to be delivered in ‘three-year blocks’.

The people who organise fixtures and line pitches and sort the kids into 4-3-3 travelled from all around Munster to hear plenty of worthy ambition, as the FAI set out its aim to build the “most integrated football ecosystem in the world”.

“We don’t want to copy and paste from another country,” said Canham, formerly director of coaching at the Premier League.

Ireland’s “strong multi-sport” culture is a unique advantage we can harness, he stressed. Look at clubs like Benfica, who have to encourage their academy youngsters to take up other sports to build more rounded athletes.

All of what was presented is up for discussion, details will come later, Canham insisted. But among the top-line items is a six-tier pyramid for men’s and women’s football in Ireland, needing around 146 clubs with the ambition and resources to climb that ladder. The start point for men would be a National Leagues North and South, sitting below the League of Ireland First Division. For women, the initial step is a First Division.

Some interested parties in the room wondered where grassroots clubs would find money to participate and travel. Would there be grants? That kind of detail will come later, said Canham and Fran Gavin, the FAI’s head of competitions and football services.

A new National Football Centre and academy for boys and