WE are thrilled to add another club to our Partnership Programme in Ireland, with Aisling Annacotty AFC becoming our only club partner based in Limerick.

This unique partnership programme will see Celtic Soccer Academy Coaches deliver camps with Aisling Annacotty, giving the players the opportunity to attend the Elite Player Programmes as well as the chance to travel to Glasgow to visit Celtic FC as part of a team tour experience.

The coaches of our latest partner will gain access to our monthly Coach Education WebEx’s as well as our online Coaches Curriculum.

The partnership has already seen a great deal of activity. Aisling Annacotty sent eight players to the Elite Player Programme at Gormanston Park, and coaches were very impressed with the attitude and qualities of the players. In addition our International Soccer Academy manager visited the club and took the U13/14s’ squad for a session then delivered a coach education presentation to the club’s coaching staff.

Aisling Annacotty’s Director of Football, Paul Burke said: “As part of our continuing development we are excited to partner with a massive club like Celtic FC as we continue to build a development pathway and enhance the offerings to our players and coaches.”

International Soccer Academy Manager, John McStay added: ‘It is fantastic to see Aisling Annacotty AFC join a growing number of club partnerships within Europe and we are excited to work with them in the future. The structure and philosophy of the club was one of the main reasons we have partnered with them to build a long lasting relationship."

Aisling Annacotty AFC as we know it today is an amalgamation of two clubs, Aisling FC, and Annacotty United FC. This amalgamation took place in 1988 when representatives from both clubs decided that it was to the benefit of the clubs to unite to form a larger single club, to promote the development of schoolboy and junior soccer in the greater Annacotty area, which at the time was seeing a rapid growth in employment and population.

Today Aisling Annacotty AFC is one of the largest soccer clubs in Ireland, having in excess of 900 members and fielding teams from under-6 to under-17, youth and adult, ladies’ and men’s teams.

By following an ethos of encouragement, equality and participation, they provide an environment to enable all players to develop their potential. As a club, they invest a considerable amount of time and resources in developing their coaching programmes for both players and managers.

Celtic Soccer Academy have over 20 partner clubs in Europe, and if your club or organisation would like to be part of our ever growing programme then please get in touch with John McStay (International Soccer Academy Manager for Europe) on jmcstay@celticfc.co.uk

Celtic soccer academy announce partnership with Aisling Annacotty