London eager to develop homegrown talent

By Cian O’Connell

“The numbers across Britain are up nearly 28 per cent in the last four or five years, and in London, it is 20 per cent, the number of youth registrations,” explains London GAA Community Development Administrator (CDA) Cormac Duffy.

“That probably shows what we're doing is working to an extent. We're starting to see that now through the pathways we've put in place from when they start at U7, the whole way up to when they reach adult football.

“It is definitely better. Even adult football wise in London this year, you've five or six clubs, who have a junior team, a London born team that play in the junior championship. That'd be boys, who've come through from underage football.”

That is what it’s all about. These are encouraging times for London GAA. Neil Rogers steered the hurlers to Christy Ring Cup glory, while Michael Maher is carrying out diligent work with the senior footballers.

"At junior level, Paul Coggins is still serving the London cause with trademark passion.

Retaining homegrown players, keeping them involved with a suitable games programme. Undoubtedly, it isn’t without challenges, but Duffy is adamant that London is improving in this area. “You've more opportunities for them now, growing up through the teenage age groups,” he reflects.

“They're able to get more games. Even the county teams, the development squads have really developed in the last couple of years. That makes it easier.

“With the clubs having a junior team at adult level, it gives boys a pathway if it is their first year of adult football, to step up, and then maybe play in their senior championship team. To have a junior team helps them with that step up.”

London GAA specifically targeted providing more matches for emerging players. “Over here, with other sports and the size of the city, the amount of things you can do in London, the drop off of players once they finish U17 was huge,” Duffy says.

“It is something the clubs would highlight, saying they were losing 17- and 18-year-olds, and they wanted to try to keep them. Giving them more games helps to try to bridge that gap a bit. Gaelic Football or hurling can then become the number one sport for them.”

Duffy is involved with Academy squads in London, another source of comfort and hope. Players are representing their county and also getting increased exposure to training and fixtures. “Traditionally, London would've had an U15 hurling and an U15 football team which went back for Féile,” Duffy says.

“We've really ramped it up over the last few years. It starts now at U14 with the football. That is seen as a development year, it is open to all 14-year-olds in the county.

"You've no squads picked, they train maybe once or twice a month from April or May until September.

“It is open to everyone, they'll compete in the All-Britain U15 Féile in the Shield competition. They'll play a few challenge matches against teams in Britain. The idea of that is to get them ready for when they step up to U15.”

That is an important landmark. “Our U15 team is heading to Féile next week, they compete in the Cup competition in the All-Britain Championship, they've played challenge matches against teams in Britain, and they'd a warm up trip in Ireland a few weeks ago to get them ready for Féile,” Duffy says.

“Our U17 football team last year entered into the All-Ireland Minor Championship at Tier C level. So, that was a big step up for them. They also played in the All-Britain U17 Championship.

"It used to always be held in a blitz format, but this year it is held with proper 60-minute games. We're in the final on Sunday against Warwickshire. That has been a really good initiative, adding full sided games.

“We've also an U16 development squad for the first time, just to bridge that gap for the boys that don't make the U17 squad. We've a group of maybe 20 players training away every few weeks and playing challenge matches.”

More clubs are being represented on county teams and significant work is being carried out in the younger age groups. London’s homegrown outfit competes in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship too.

It all starts in the juvenile ranks. “Go Games, U7, U9, and U11, that is where we still have the biggest number of clubs,” Duffy says. “It reduces as we go up the ages. At U17 we only have maybe six clubs.

“For example, at U13 this year we had 10 teams, who participated. That was the first time in a long time we had such a number. The idea would be that in four or five years time we'd have 10 clubs participating in the U17 Championship, that it will carry itself through.

“There is still a bit of an issue finding time to play games at U15 and U17, games can get called off or walkovers given, but compared to where it was a few years ago, that problem has definitely reduced. It is getting better.”

Through school visits and constantly liaising with clubs, Duffy is encouraged that people with new players are getting involved in Gaelic games. “Even from blitzes and school visits this year, you can see there definitely is kids of a non-Irish background playing,” Duffy remarks.

“Most of them have come through their friends from school, who might have an Irish background. They hear about it in school or the likes of myself or the other CDAs in Britain.

"We go into a school and expose them to it, they might pick up an interest or play for their schools at a blitz or the ABCs.

“They enjoy it and might play for a club. We're mostly reliant on second, third or fourth generation Irish, but it is definitely growing slow and steady among the non-Irish.”

Busy during the week with school visits, Duffy is happy to receive help developing football and hurling. “I'm lucky, at the minute I've two part time coaches,” Duffy say.

“We got a bit of funding, so I've two students, who're doing a bit of part time coaching. Some of the clubs have been really proactive, going out doing bits in the schools themselves.

“So, a coach or a parent if they've a few free hours will do it, and some of the clubs are really good at it. They'll take it upon themselves to free up a few hours. It might only be once every few weeks or some might be able to do it for a 10-week period.

“For some, it might only be for one session, but it is giving them a taster. Some of the clubs are really good and proactive doing it before or after school. It is a work in progress, I'll happily take any help I can get, whenever it is offered.”

Since commencing the role three years ago, Duffy acknowledges the progress being made, particularly in South London. “Traditionally you'd have north and west London, Cricklewood, Harrow, Kilburn, the places we've all heard of before where the Irish tradition was,” Duffy responds.

“It is definitely more spread out now. South London is really a growing hotspot, I know a lot of younger Irish people are moving to South London. Even a lot of people, who've been over for years have settled down in South London.

"That is where I've seen the biggest growth. I know in my time coming in, the Fulham Irish set-up, Dulwich Harps, who started last year. We're working really hard now to get a combined South London youth hurling team together.

“They're three of my new projects in my three years in the job, they're all based in South London. That is where the biggest growth is. It is definitely more spread out than it used to be which is a logistical challenge, but also a positive thing too.”

The hard work continues.