For a full week, each position will be debated on a daily basis via http://www.facebook.com/FAIreland for the Men's Senior Team and via http://www.facebook.com/FAIWomen for the Women's Senior Team.

From the top four suggestions put forward by supporters, a poll will then run on Twitter to select an overall winner in each position.

Let the debate begin!

The club were founded in March 1996, and celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2021. They play in Sheila Flynn Park in Moorepark East, Kilworth.

Kilworth Celtic have two 2 FIFA regulation size grass pitches, Clubhouse that is close to completion with four Dressing Rooms and planning permission for a small Astro pitch.

Club funding is directly linked to weekly lotto sales, local sponsorship and annual fundraising efforts. Lottery jackpots have benefited local patrons no fewer than twenty times with local residents scooping jackpots as high as €15,000.

The club has won various honours in their relatively short history including numerous underage titles at underage levels. They won U16 WWEC Cup Final in Cobh in 2017 and the U13 WWEC League in 2018/2019

The junior men have also secured honours over the years winning the WWEC Junior Men’s First Division three times, the Liam Fitzgerald Cup and also the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup and most recently the Premier Divison three times in a row, before transferring to the Munster Senior League in 2019/2020 season.

Kilworth Celtic have also been nominated and selected on two occasions to host the FAI's FARE Week. Ray Houghton visited the club to coincide with the FARE Week programmes.

Today, there are over 180 playing members in the club and also have a Football For All programme.

In recent years the club have focused on women's football and have two teams in the Cork Ladies Underage League and form an adult team this year.

The FAI Club Mark is an award for grassroots clubs based on best practice in the governance, management and administration of a football club.

Clubs start their journey at Entry Level and can progress onto the One Star Award. Each step challenges the club to implement policies and procedures in line with best practice.

The FAI Club Mark is free and optional for clubs and aims to:

• Improve the management of clubs ‘off the field’
• Establish and promote best practice
• Empower and support clubs
• Recognise and reward clubs for achieving high standards
• Increase a club’s capacity to operate effectively and grow football in communities throughout Ireland.

If your club is interested in learning more about the FAI Club Mark please complete this short Registration Form

Players and staff from all four clubs were tested as the FAI continues to work on a pathway for a safer return for all Irish football in the coming months, under the supervision of Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne.

Dr Byrne, a member of the Government’s Return to Sport expert group, has overseen the pilot programme for the four clubs that will inform all decisions on a pathway for Irish football to return in a safe environment by the end of August.

The pilot tournament, featuring the four European qualified SSE Airtricity League teams, is planned for later this summer with the clubs scheduled to resume training on June 8th.

Republic of Ireland and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne was one of the players tested on Monday morning.

He told FAI TV: “The test was fine. We just got a little swab taken at the back of our throats and it was all done in less than 20 seconds. We’re happy to get it done as it’s another step closer to training soon.

“I think it’s important for everyone in the country that football gets back when it’s safe to do so. I think we’re taking the right measures to come back to football in time and in a safe way. Football is such a huge part of this country and we need to take these steps for football to return, from the league to the grassroots. I can’t wait to return and get back to playing football.”

Test results from all players and staff in the pilot programme will be available later this week when they will be assessed by the FAI Medical team who will link in with Government and HSE officials as they work together on a return for sport.

“Today is a significant day as we plot our return for all football in Ireland in a safe environment for players, staff, officials and volunteers,” Medical Director Dr Byrne told FAI.ie.

“We must take slow and deliberate steps in this COVID-19 pandemic and testing of these four squads is crucial as we look to deliver this pathway to a safer return to football for all elements of our game.

“We have begun the process for players at all levels, not just for those tested today under the pilot programme. Once we start to analyse the results of these tests, we can move forward. We will test the players from these four clubs again before they return to training on June 8th and then again regularly when they are back on the training field.

“Everything we do now is designed to ensure that football can return for everyone as soon as it is safe and responsible. We owe that to all our players, from the elite players in the League of Ireland to the schoolboys and schoolgirls who want to get back on the pitch with their clubs but their health and safety must come first. This is the first step and a significant step in that process.”

The FAI will continue to work with Government departments and the HSE. All decisions on a safer return for football for all will be made in conjunction with the State agencies and will be dependent on their approval.

The first classic match released is the famous play-off first leg in Tallinn, Estonia in 2011.

A huge 4-0 win over Estonia all but saw Ireland qualify for the UEFA EURO 2012, with the second leg back in Dublin merely a formality.

Keith Andrews opened the scoring before Jonathan Walters added a second at the back post with just under 25 minutes remaining.

Robbie Keane made sure of the emphatic victory with a late brace to secure a famous night.

Watch the full 20-minute highlights on FAI TV above.

In his Coaches' Insight interview, Jim talks looks back at how he got the buzz for coaching, learning from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, and his pride in seeing Troy Parrott and Lee O'Connor make their senior Ireland debuts.

Name: Jim Crawford

Role: Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager

Began current role: 2020

Coaching history
Shamrock Rovers Caretaker Manager
FAI Emerging Talent Programme
Republic of Ireland U19 Assistant Coach
Republic of Ireland U18 Head Coach
Republic of Ireland U21 Assistant Coach

What is the one key attribute you need as a coach?
For me, the stand-out attribute needed for a coach are excellent communication skills. There are a lot of coaches out there who have a fantastic knowledge of the game but don’t have the communication skills required to deliver the message.

Whether you’re on the training pitch delivering your strategy or in a team meeting going over details, you have to communicate your message to everyone and you have to have the skills to do that.

What is your favourite thing about the job?
Short term it would be getting out on the training pitch with the players and devising a strategy to win a game and breakdown the opponents.  
Long-term would be the satisfaction of having an influence on a player making it to the senior team. You look at the likes of Troy Parrott and Lee O’Connor becoming senior international players, and whilst I had a small part to play, I still take incredible pride from it.

Any pre-match rituals?
I’m quite boring in that sense! I get up early on matchdays and training days and make sure the day is planned ahead. I meet up with the staff so the whole set-up for the day is like a military operation. Nothing is left to chance because everyone knows how important it is for players to get sleep, have their pre-match meal and the journey to the stadium – it has to run like clockwork.

What one message would you give to a player to keep with them throughout their career? 
The message I would give a player is that they have to constantly challenge themselves. I saw it first-hand playing at  Newcastle with Alan Shearer, whether it was 5-a-side, 7-a-side or 11-a-side training games he always wanted to score goals. That stuck with me, so I would say to players ‘always challenge yourselves’. 

If a coach asks to work on body shape or having a positive first touch, go and work on it in training because it soon becomes a habit and you can then take it onto the pitch. If you’re with your U23s team over in the UK  and you’re pulling up trees week-in-week out, you’ve got to challenge yourself and say ‘look, I need to go out on loan’.

Which coach/manager – from any sport – have you taken your greatest inspiration from?
There have been so many managers I’ve worked under that I’ve gained inspiration from.

I’ve worked under Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Tommy Burns – with his passion and knowledge of the game. Then in Ireland I worked under Pat Fenlon and I took a lot from his man management, and there’s Paul Doolin and Stephen Kenny who I’ve learned a lot from too.

To extend this, in my former role as a coach educator I’ve gained a lot from talking to coaches on pro-licence courses. So i wouldn’t say there’s one person, it’s more like a group of people who have lit my flame.

Favourite match you coached and why?
One that stands out, believe it or not it, would have been 15 years ago when I was with Shelbourne. Pat Fenlon asked me to take on the U21s team on a particular Saturday and we were playing St. Patrick’s Athletic in the AUL.

It would have been the first time I was involved in coaching or managing a team at an elite level and I enjoyed the buzz of preparing for the game, I enjoyed the half-time team talk and the thrill afterwards because we won 2-1. I would say that’s when the seed was planted to go into coaching because I enjoyed it so much.

More recently, with the Ireland U18s we beat Belgium 2-1 and the reason it stands out is Belgium played a 1-3-4-3 system and they had a unique way of playing out from the back that we had to combat. It was the manner in which we played and we had players involved then who are involved in the U21s now such as Adam Idah and Jason Knight.  It was a fantastic performance against an exceptional Belgium team. 

What team or match from any era do you wish you could have coached?
Perhaps the group who played in the European Championships in 1988. I would have loved to have been involved when they beat England – I can only imagine the jubilation.
If you look at the players in that team like Paul McGrath and Ronnie Whelanand Ray Houghton -they were outstanding players.  It was an iconic result against a great England team and to be part of the group, that brought the country to a standstill, would have been a fantastic experience.

Vera Pauw's team occupy top spot having made an unbeaten start to qualifying, but the outbreak of COVID-19 forced the rescheduling of their remaining games against Germany and Ukraine.

Following meetings with UEFA, those games have been rescheduled with Ireland travelling to Germany on September 19th, playing away to Ukraine on October 23rd, and finishing at home to Germany on December 1st.

Ireland Assistant Manager Eileen Gleeson said: "It is fantastic to receive confirmation from UEFA that we will return to action this year and get to finish out our group games. 

"On the original schedule we would have been preparing to travel to Ukraine next month, but now we know that our games will come in September, October and December. There is a lot of work to do in advance of those games, especially with some of our players' club seasons still undetermined while some at varying stages of returning to play.

"It is important to note that the fight against COVID-19 continues and that while we are excited by the prospect of football returning, we must continue to follow Government & HSE regulations. This is our first battle to overcome, then we have turn our focus to our games.

"But we are excited to have these games set and know the dates to work towards. We have kept in regular contact with our players, who continue to work on personal fitness programmes, so now it is all about preparing for return to training and ultimately competitive action once we advance further in overcoming COVID-19."

The finals tournament has been moved to July 2022, while the play-offs will take place in April 2021.

Match details on the three fixtures will be announced in due course.

FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne received the results today of the first batch of tests, carried out on Monday at Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians.

All those tested have been informed of their negative result.

The players and staff from the four clubs will be tested again next Monday ahead of a planned return to training on June 8th, as part of the pilot programme to ensure a safe return for football at all levels under the jurisdiction of the FAI.

“This is most welcome news and a very positive step as we work with Government, their agencies and all stakeholders in the game towards a safer return for all of Irish football,” said FAI Interim Deputy CEO Niall Quinn.

“These negative results are an early boost for everyone in the game but it is only the start. We have to remain vigilant and we again urge all affiliates – clubs, players, supporters and parents – to abide by the Government and HSE guidelines.”

Ruaidhri Higgins (pictured left) will take up the role of Senior National Team Chief Scout and Opposition Analyst, Damien Doyle (pictured centre) has been appointed as Head of Athletic Performance and Kevin Mulholland (pictured right) joins the medical team as a Chartered Physiotherapist.

A native of Limavady in Co. Derry, Ruaidhri Higgins (35) played for Stephen Kenny for five years at Derry City. He won the League as a player with Dundalk alongside Stephen in 2014 and won it again as Opposition Analyst and Coach in 2018 and as Assistant Manager a year later.

Damien Doyle (40), from Portmarnock in Dublin, spent 18 years working in the UK with Leicester City, Brentford and MK Dons, primarily as Head of Athletic Performance and has held a similar role with the Ireland Under-21 team for the last 18 months.

Like Damien, Kevin Mulholland (35) was part of Stephen’s backroom team with the Irish Under-21 squad as Lead Physiotherapist. Kevin, from Knockbridge in County Louth, is lead Performance and Injury Prevention Physio at Premier League side Southampton and has also worked with Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City in the past.

Welcoming the appointments, Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said: “I’m delighted to welcome Ruaidhri, Damien and Kevin, they are great additions to the backroom team. They each have a great work ethic and a high level of professionalism and we are all looking forward to the campaign ahead.”

Hosted by FAI Communications Manager Gareth Maher, the webinar delves into what leadership really means in terms of coaching, how it has an impact on players, and how coaches can become better leaders.

There is a lot for coaches at all levels to take from this insightful webinar, which also includes an assignment for any coach who would like to earn CPD hours (if the assignment is completed ahead of the deadline).

Hosted by FAI Communications Manager Gareth Maher, Colin - who is also an FAI Coach Educator - goes through an excellent presentation on everything involved in preparing for his team's opening game against Greece.

There is a lot for coaches at all levels to take from this insightful webinar, which also includes an assignment for any coach who would like to earn CPD hours (if the assignment is completed ahead of the deadline).

In the midst of a Global lockdown and as world struggles to manage its way through the Covid-19 pandemic, the worldwide CP football family came together for the first-ever Global training session.

The brainchild of CP Soccer US, the “CP Soccer Goes Global” initiative saw players from 19 different countries logging in via Zoom to participate in a training session which involved drills and skills and fun challenges.

Five players from Ireland’s CP Football Development Academy participated in the event which was the first of its kind and an great example of the work which it being done to promote CP football and foster relationships between the various CP football programme around the world.

The event was an enormous success and demonstrates the ambition and commitment that exists to develop the sport at grassroots level and increase levels of participation in both developed and developing nations.

The Irish players who participated in the event were aged between 10 and 14 and were all part of a junior squad which was due to travel to New Jersey in July to take part in a Junior CP Football Tournament. As with many sporting events this summer, the tournament had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The five players were delighted to be involved in the “CP Soccer Goes Global” event after the disappointment of having their trip to the US cancelled.

The links between the Irish CP Football Junior Programme and CP Soccer US continues to go from strength-to-strength following on from the CP Soccer US’s trip to Ireland in March 2019 to participate in the first ever International Junior CP Football Festival which was held in Dublin.

After the huge success of the CP Soccer Goes Global, plans are already in place for a follow-up event.

For any information on CP football in Ireland, visit  www.cpfootballacademy.com– or email enquiries@cpfootballacademy.com 

The Board is committed to regaining the trust of the public and the key stakeholders who are supporting the Association to help them achieve that plan.

The Board is further committed to implementing the highest standards of corporate governance and will ensure that all those involved in the game of football will be represented democratically in any future structure.

The Board of the FAI is available to engage in dialogue with any stakeholder with constructive input during this process, in the interest of developing and promoting the game in Ireland.

The Board will continue to work on charting a safe return to football and completing the process for the appointment of a CEO.   

The Board is committed to regaining the trust of the public and the key stakeholders who are supporting the Association to help them achieve that plan.

The Board is further committed to implementing the highest standards of corporate governance and will ensure that all those involved in the game of football will be represented democratically in any future structure.

The Board of the FAI is available to engage in dialogue with any stakeholder with constructive input during this process, in the interest of developing and promoting the game in Ireland.

The Board will continue to work on charting a safe return to football and completing the process for the appointment of a CEO.   

The LSGL are hoping to get members to walk or run 100 kilometres in the month of June, and raise money for the charity at the same time.

Republic of Ireland men's manager and Louth resident Stephen Kenny is also taking part in the good cause for the month.

The LGSL want everyone to sign up to their team, through the 100kin30days website. Over 11,000 have signed up in total, to take part in the initiative.

For more information of how to join the LSGL team for a great cause, you can find out more on their Facebook page.

FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne received the results today from the tests carried out on Monday at Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians. All those tested have been informed of their negative result.

All four clubs will undergo further testing on Monday, June 8 when they return to collective training, as part of the pilot programme to ensure a safer return for football at all levels under the jurisdiction of the FAI.

Those sessions went against the advice issued by FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne as the FAI continues to work with Government and the HSE to develop a pathway for a safer return to football for all players, coaches, officials and volunteers at all levels of the game in Ireland.

The FAI has included Bohemians in a four-team pilot programme to facilitate a safer return to football and the Association has incurred significant costs in undertaking COVID-19 testing on the club’s first-team squad and staff.

Bohemians have acknowledged the merits of the FAI’s pathway and have agreed to work within the guidelines set down by the Association in advance of a return to collective training on Monday, June 8th, and ahead of a four-team tournament in July, which will also feature fellow European qualifiers Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City.

“We accept that facilitating small group training sessions was contrary to FAI advice and against the professional advice offered by the FAI’s medical director Dr Alan Byrne,” said a Bohemians spokesperson.

“We are aware of our position as role models for the game in Ireland and are grateful to be one of the four teams involved in the pilot programme designed to secure a safer return to football for everyone involved with our sport across the country.

“We regret if our actions, although made in good faith in line with phase one of the government roadmap, may have placed that programme at risk.

"As a club, we apologise to the FAI and to all our fellow stakeholders for any offence caused. We are mindful of the huge amount of work and sacrifice being made by so many in this country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and we thank all those on the frontline for their ongoing contributions.”

Welcoming the Bohemians' apology, FAI Interim CEO Gary Owens said: “We are happy that Bohemians have reaffirmed their commitment to the pathway we are on to ensure a safer return to football. The guidelines we have issued are based on the best possible medical advice from our Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne.

“It is imperative that all our clubs abide by our guidelines to ensure we can get our players of all ages back on the pitch in the safest environment possible. Our pilot programme is central to this effort and we welcome confirmation from Bohemians that they will follow our guidelines and help Irish football return to action as soon as it is safe and feasible.”

These guidelines will come into effect on Monday, June 8th, and will have a positive impact on the plans for the SSE Airtricity League, the Women’s National League, adult amateur and underage football and all other affiliates.

• The FAI welcomes the green light from Government for our four European qualified SSE Airtricity League teams – Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemian FC – to resume collective training on Monday, June 8th
• The FAI are working on a return to training protocol for the other SSE Airtricity League clubs and Women’s National League clubs, based on the new Government guidelines for group training for sports teams involving up to 15 people
• The FAI’s Steering Group are meeting on Saturday morning to draw up protocols for the return to training for adult amateur and underage football under the new Government guidelines and will issue its recommendations as soon as feasible
• To facilitate this vital planning process, and to support clubs with time to put in place the necessary health and safety protocols, no resumption of training under the new Government guidelines is permitted before Monday, June 15th, other than for the four European qualified clubs from the SSE Airtricity League
• The FAI’s Steering Group will examine how these new Government guidelines affect all affiliates
• The FAI welcomes expressions of interest for registration for our INTERSPORT Elverys Summer Soccer Schools at bit.ly/20faisss
• The FAI’s Steering Group will now review the cessation of football directive which currently runs until July 20th

Welcoming the Government announcements, FAI Interim CEO Gary Owens said: “The new measures announced today by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin, are most welcome and positive for football and for all sport in Ireland.

“We thank the Taoiseach, the Ministers and all the staff at the various Government agencies who have worked so hard to get us to this point. Those agencies have offered us great assistance as we move towards a safer return for football for all our players, coaches, match officials, administrators and club volunteers.

“We still have a long road to travel in the battle against COVID-19 but sport has a huge rule to play in Ireland’s recovery and these new guidelines will help get us back on the playing field as soon as it is safe for all our stakeholders.

“We again thank all those working on the frontline for their dedication in the fight against COVID-19 and for their contribution in getting us to a point where we can plan for live sport again.”

Jim, who is also an FAI Coach Educator, joins FAI Communications Manager Gareth Maher to go through the planning, organisation and execution of a detailed game-plan that is centred around attacking prinicples.

There is a lot for coaches at all levels to take from this insightful webinar, which also includes an assignment for any coach who would like to earn CPD hours (if the assignment is completed ahead of the deadline).

A Safer Return to Training document has also been produced for SSE Airtricity League and Women’s National League clubs who will return next Monday, with the exception of Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemian FC and Derry City all of whom are currently part of a pilot programme and have just resumed collective training.

The primary aim of the Protocol is to support clubs affiliated with the FAI in protecting the health and safety of the players, coaches and essential personnel within the clubs as they return to the training ground. Department of Health guidelines and Public Health Policy will be followed at all times. A match officials' protocol document is also being prepared. 

Today’s Protocol publication provides a thorough and comprehensive step-by-step explanation to the Pathway that permits all adult amateur and underage football, including underage National League clubs, to return to training on or after next Monday, June 15th. All clubs must appoint a COVID-19 Compliance Officer and carry out a risk assessment before any return is authorised.

Subject to Government guidelines, no matches – competitive or friendly - are allowed until further notice under the jurisdiction of the FAI.

Further specific information will be available to clubs and groups within Football For All through the FAI’s Football for All Department. 

The FAI Safer Return to Training Protocol and supporting documents are available below.

In 2019, over 36,000 kids took part on camps all around the country. Beginners get to learn the fundamental football skills needed to be a player and receive a fun and dynamic introduction to playing the beautiful game.

The programme allows coaches the opportunity to put their skills to the test on the most popular youth programme in the country.

Below is the link to apply, please fill in the application form and feel free to share it with anyone who would also be interested in coaching on our camps.

Apply now here: Coach Application Form - Coach Application

Please be aware that in order to coach on our camps you must be cleared by Garda Vetting with the FAI, have completed the Safeguarding 1 workshop with the FAI or Sport Ireland and have a minimum coaching licence of PDP1/Kickstart 1 or equivalent.

Further information and instructions on Garda Vetting can be found here - Garda Vetting Information

A full list of Child Protection in Sport Awareness Workshops can be found here - Child Protection Workshops