Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill recently visited the IFA JD National Academy at Campbell College, where he met with young players hoping to progress to professional football. This visit follows Northern Ireland's 0-0 draw against Hungary and a 1-0 victory over Georgia, marking a positive start to their Nations League campaign.
The IFA JD National Academy is a residential programme for 24 elite players at under-15 and under-16 levels. It focuses on developing both football and life skills, with education in the classroom considered a key component alongside athletic training.
O'Neill has shown a commitment to integrating youth, with teenagers Ceadach O'Neill, Tom Atcheson, Braiden Graham and Kieran Morrison currently included in the international squad. Additionally, 21-year-old Patrick Kelly and 22-year-old Terry Devlin are also making strides towards regular inclusion.
Academy students, such as 16-year-old Bailey Magee and 15-year-old Kayson Braniff, balance schoolwork with training. O'Neill believes the academy helps prepare teenagers to be "better equipped" for potential moves to English or Scottish clubs.