Paddy McCourt believes Derry City academy will begin to see fruits of its labour

DERRY CITY’s Technical Director, Paddy McCourt is hoping the Brandywell club will soon begin to harvest the fruits of its labour as it puts significant focus on its youth academy.
By Simon Collins
Published 31st Dec 2020, 11:13 BST
Updated 31st Dec 2020, 11:14 BST
Derry City Technical Director, Paddy McCourt and chairman, Mr Philip O'Doherty have big plans for the club's Academy.Derry City Technical Director, Paddy McCourt and chairman, Mr Philip O'Doherty have big plans for the club's Academy.
Derry City Technical Director, Paddy McCourt and chairman, Mr Philip O'Doherty have big plans for the club's Academy.

The club’s Board of Directors released a pre-Christmas statement revealing its intention to put in place a five to 10 year plan for a self-sustainable club.

That plan includes a ‘thorough examination of the Youth Academy and how best it might contribute to the success of the club’.

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The Academy has already produced tangible results with talented midfielder Jack Malone, Ronan Boyce, Patrick Ferry and Ronan McKinley the latest to come through the system to represent the first team over the past 24 months.

Former Celtic playmaker, McCourt oversaw the youth structures during his previous role as Academy Director and continues to liaise regularly with youth coaches regarding the development of the club’s best young talent.

There have been major changes at the Academy since his arrival, both in terms of personnel and strategy and McCourt believes the club will start seeing the benefits in the next few years.

”The Academy is in a good place,” he insisted. “We’re still working hard to identify and recruit the best players.

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"That’s what we’ve done since I’ve come into the club and, we hope, over a period of time it will bear some fruit and the first team and the club in general will see the benefits of that work.

Under-19 player of the year, Ronan Boyce, pictured with academy coaches, Mark McChrystal and Shaun Holmes and first team defender, Ciaran Coll.Under-19 player of the year, Ronan Boyce, pictured with academy coaches, Mark McChrystal and Shaun Holmes and first team defender, Ciaran Coll.
Under-19 player of the year, Ronan Boyce, pictured with academy coaches, Mark McChrystal and Shaun Holmes and first team defender, Ciaran Coll.

“There’s some excellent young talent in the Academy. We’ve seen the likes of Jack Malone and Ronan Boyce coming through over the last year and a bit and hopefully there will be plenty more to follow.”

The FAI has yet to announce a starting date for the return to football for its underage teams while there remains uncertainty surrounding Brexit and how the deal will affect young players moving to clubs in England.

Despite that uncertainty, McCourt remains confident Derry’s Academy can continue to be a significant success story for the Brandywell club.

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“We’ve had a tough year with Covid. The lads haven’t had much football but we will get together as a football club and sit down and have a real think about how we can push the academy on because long term it’s going to be so vital to the future of the club.”

In terms of recruitment for the first team ahead of next year’s League of Ireland Premier Division campaign which is understood to kick-off on February 26th, McCourt insists the club has been working hard behind the scenes over the festive period in an attempt to assemble a competitive team for next season.

Danny Lafferty’s return to the club provided a huge boost for the Candy Stripes before Christmas and while some of last season’s squad are on the verge of re-signing, McCourt is confident there will be further new signings early in the New Year - one of which will certainly excite the fans.

“We are actively working hard on recruiting players throughout the festive period and we would hope to have some good news in the New Year.”

Related topics:BrandywellRonan Boyce