Shelbourne FC Announces Biggest Academy Investment in Club History | OneFootball

Shelbourne Football Club is thrilled to announce the most significant investment in our Academy’s history.

Shelbourne FC has signed an 18-year lease with the AUL/FAI Ltd, ensuring long-term stability and a dedicated home for our Academy operations in what will be a transformative moment for the future of the 450 aspiring footballers and the team of talented coaches who currently ply their trade at the north Dublin facility. The Shelbourne FC Academy is made up of an impressive array of 27 underage teams.

This major step forward would not have been possible without the participation of the Athletic Union League and the Football Association of Ireland, as joint owners of the Complex, in concluding these discussions.

The project includes the development of four state-of-the-art pitches, catering to various training and match requirements. A centrepiece of this development is the construction of a new all-weather pitch, facilitating year-round training and play. The club has also invested in upgrades to its football operations facilities including the addition of multi purpose meeting spaces for homework for young players, team meetings, analysis sessions, and coach education workshops.

This ambitious project has been boosted by a €500,000 grant from the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), specifically allocated for the all-weather pitch. This grant, combined with substantial investments from the club and our shareholders, will be utilised to bring these plans to fruition.

Colm Barron, Shelbourne FC Academy Director, emphasised the positive impact of this investment: “This is another really positive step forward for the Academy and the club as a whole. It’s a sign of the continued intent in which the club shows to elevate operations and push the Academy forward. It allows us to make further progress on the pitch and accumulate more contact hours with our players, something which is imperative to us moving forward”.

Luke Byrne, Shelbourne FC Technical Director: “We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a long-term lease for our academy facilities. This is a pivotal moment for our club’s future. With this foundation, we can now invest in raising our levels across the board and create an environment that truly reflects our club’s values and vision. This lease allows us to invest further in a set-up that will nurture our young talents, providing them with top-class facilities. It’s not just about developing players; it’s about shaping the future of our club. This move demonstrates our commitment to youth development and our long-term strategy for sustainable success.”

Peter Lynch, Chairman of AUL/FAI Ltd: “We are delighted that the ongoing discussion  have resulted in this lease, which shows what can be achieves when elements of the football community work together.  We, in the AUL Complex, look forward to working with the Shelbourne Academy as they undertake this ambitious program of work.  This work, together with our projects of pitch drainage and clubhouse refurbishment, will establish the Complex as a leading centre for the future development of football, something that we can all be proud of.”