Republic of Ireland-Born Football Migrants and University Access, 1945-2010
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| Title: | Republic of Ireland-Born Football Migrants and University Access, 1945-2010 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Curran, Conor |
| Source: | Irish Educational Studies. 2020 39(1):65-82. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2020 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Athletes, Team Sports, Immigrants, Access to Education, Higher Education, Educational Attainment, Educational History, Careers, Secondary Education, Scholarships, Professional Associations, Government Role |
| Geographic Terms: | Ireland, United Kingdom (England) |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03323315.2019.1606728 |
| ISSN: | 0332-3315 |
| Abstract: | This article assesses the rates of third-level degree obtainment amongst Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who played league football in England in the period from 1945 until 2010. It will illustrate that despite a general widening of access and participation at university level in the Republic of Ireland in the late twentieth century, the number of these footballers who successfully completed degree courses remained small. It will show that some players have taken up third-level education independently and their access routes will be discussed along with influences on their post-playing career decisions. Despite improvements in educational access for young players at British clubs, and the development of university scholarships for aspiring players in Ireland, the Irish government has been slow to provide assistance for football migrants in terms of player and educational welfare. This article traces the evolution of governmental attitudes towards the provision of welfare and education for talented footballers, and illustrates that it was not until the early twenty-first century that these matters began to gain significant attention in the Dáil. However, there is currently no formal structure in place in Ireland to help them prepare for and come to terms with a post-professional career. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2020 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1247395 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Url: https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHj0k_4E0hTGH8RJwT4gCJyBsGNe_WN95AvKlDbXJGqwxwEloc8BfQ2yKZsshUo0OKinAAAA4zCB4AYJKoZIhvcNAQcGoIHSMIHPAgEAMIHJBgkqhkiG9w0BBwEwHgYJYIZIAWUDBAEuMBEEDK0dLXdznBQacjQsRQIBEICBm6ErmwExYLt13_BhMaEDY0caXeVtroP3lmUKLUJLymcYtWjfv1-cO9JrUnTpR4OpH-Z0NBCyrPfZ0YKMaAJMXhe065v-QlXRXkSOzgES_hso13inlaqUb0FzylyKBsn9wuR8pKR0u56jqSgnjf7PoEBtLnSLzI7Bfdw24_eTDmhYZjfzRs06IQLtqghNrV01Kfr-DGRebaSFWMJf Text: Availability: 1 Value: <anid>AN0142200304;u1001mar.20;2020Mar14.02:27;v2.2.500</anid> <title id="AN0142200304-1">Republic of Ireland-born football migrants and university access, 1945–2010 </title> <p>This article assesses the rates of third-level degree obtainment amongst Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who played league football in England in the period from 1945 until 2010. It will illustrate that despite a general widening of access and participation at university level in the Republic of Ireland in the late twentieth century, the number of these footballers who successfully completed degree courses remained small. It will show that some players have taken up third-level education independently and their access routes will be discussed along with influences on their post-playing career decisions. Despite improvements in educational access for young players at British clubs, and the development of university scholarships for aspiring players in Ireland, the Irish government has been slow to provide assistance for football migrants in terms of player and educational welfare. This article traces the evolution of governmental attitudes towards the provision of welfare and education for talented footballers, and illustrates that it was not until the early twenty-first century that these matters began to gain significant attention in the Dáil. However, there is currently no formal structure in place in Ireland to help them prepare for and come to terms with a post-professional career.</p> <p>Keywords: soccer; migration; education; access; government</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-2">Introduction</hd> <p>This article assesses one previously unexamined aspect of changing higher education access opportunities in Ireland through an analysis of the rates of university degree obtainment of Republic of Ireland-born football migrants in the period from 1945 until 2010. It will show that while by the early twenty-first century, 'non-standard access routes' into third-level education and 'the creation of access programmes by most universities' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib26" id="ref1">26</reflink>], 48) had led to an expansion in student enrolments, the numbers of Irish-born professional football migrants gaining university degrees remained small. It will illustrate that it is questionable if the culture of professional football has become any more conducive to players' university entry since the post-war era. While coaching staff of English professional football clubs have traditionally been discouraging of education as it is viewed as a distraction from football performance (Davies [<reflink idref="bib8" id="ref2">8</reflink>], 70), some professional footballers have gained university entry by completing secondary level exams and university degrees prior to their entry into English league or Premier League football. A few others returned to education after finishing their professional football careers and a small number have also completed post-graduate studies. This comes despite the general lack of assistance from Irish soccer's governing bodies in catering for retired football migrants' educational needs and the relatively slow intervention of the Irish government into the welfare of these players. The role of third-level football scholarships as a pathway to securing non-football related employment qualifications for aspiring players is assessed and some of the entry routes Irish-born football migrants have taken into third-level education are discussed. These developments are situated within the transformation undertaken within Irish higher education structures in evolving from an 'elite' to a 'mass' system since the 1960s (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref3">25</reflink>], 6).</p> <p>These themes are relevant given the reduced numbers of Irish-born players today appearing in the English Premier League despite the almost relentless flow of Irish players to English clubs since the late nineteenth century. Until the internationalisation of the Premier League in the 1990s, Irish-born football migrants were the largest category of non-British players employed as professional footballers in the Premier and English Football Leagues. While the numbers of Republic of Ireland-born players recruited per decade and playing in English professional football increased from ninety-five in the 1946–1955 period to 148 during 1996–2005, the rates of these players appearing in the top division has dropped from 48.42% in the early period to 27.02% in the latter. (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref4">7</reflink>], 325). Despite the glamour and affluence of the Premier League, which grew in global stature following its establishment in 1992 with the freedom of movement which came with the Bosman Ruling of 1995, player education and access to third-level education has been problematic for those seeking it within the game (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref5">7</reflink>], 288–298 and 321).</p> <p>The investment of satellite television companies has led to huge financial gains for players and coaches at the highest levels, but only a few high profile players can hope to access media and broadcasting work when their playing careers come to an end. For the majority of players in English professional football, the lack of educational qualifications gained while developing their football talents mean that in terms of employment, many have had nothing to fall back on outside the game when they retire (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref6">7</reflink>], 276–286). This comes despite evidence to suggest that the completion of career and educational goals while participating as an elite athlete can improve sporting performance. In particular, Australian Rules football players with degrees have been shown to be more financially astute, make better choices and have longer playing careers (Hickey and Kelly [<reflink idref="bib15" id="ref7">15</reflink>], 477).</p> <p>This is significant as teenage player drop-out rates from professional football in England are quite high. Figures reported by the Professional Footballers' Association indicate that by the late twentieth century, half of those signed as trainees at the age of sixteen were released two years later while only a quarter of sixteen year olds remained in professional football by the time they were nineteen years of age (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref8">14</reflink>], 179). For those who do make a career out of professional football, retirement and career termination has been shown to provide tough mental challenges for players at a range of levels, with Premier League players such as Lee Hendry and Clark Carlisle attempting to take their own lives within the last decade (Carlisle [<reflink idref="bib4" id="ref9">4</reflink>]), illustrating how former players can be at risk when a major change in identity takes place (<emph>The Guardian</emph>, 2017 and Jones and Dennison [<reflink idref="bib17" id="ref10">17</reflink>], 936). Unsurprisingly, Irish-born football migrants have also suffered mentally, both while as players and on retirement, with former Republic of Ireland international Richie Sadlier admitting to suffering from depression having had to retire prematurely through injury in 2003 aged just twenty-four (Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib22" id="ref11">22</reflink>], 'I had contacted a solicitor').</p> <p>Following a brief overview of the methodology used in this study, this article outlines a number of key changes in third-level education in Ireland during the period covered. The historiography of professional footballers and education is also addressed. It then assesses, through data utilised in the table included, the rates of university degree obtainment of Republic of Ireland-born football migrants whose post-playing careers have been identified. The significance of completing secondary level education, and its impact on professional footballers, a category traditionally associated with incompletion of this level, is then assessed. Using interviews conducted as part of this study, players' views on education at their clubs and access to this is then analysed. While it is important to note that most football migrants are not in a position to take up university sports' scholarships as they generally sign for English clubs in their late teenage years, the recent growth of these in the Republic of Ireland is also discussed. In addition, the role of the Professional Footballers' Association in the provision of education in England is assessed. Finally, this article looks at the efforts of the Irish government to cater for Irish-born football migrants. This article is therefore focused on whether professional football clubs' attitudes towards educating players with a view towards an alternative, fall-back career, changed since the 1960s. It also examines if Irish universities and the Irish government have facilitated professional footballers' post-playing career options and educational aspirations.</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-3">Methodology</hd> <p>Data compiled for this article has been largely utilised from that gathered for a FIFA Havelange Research Scholarship study undertaken by the author during 2013–2014. This included interviews with fifteen Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who had played in the English Premier or Football League in the 1945–2010 period. As well as drawing on secondary sources such as autobiographies, magazines and newspapers, player records were utilised to construct an extensive database of the playing and post-playing career movements of each Irish-born football migrant from the 1945–2010 period. It must be noted that not every player's post-playing career could be identified, but a significant sample (<emph>n</emph> = 188) was compiled.</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-4">Changes in third level education in Ireland</hd> <p>John Coolahan has noted that 'perhaps in no area have the changes in education since the mid-1960s been more dramatic than in third-level education' (Coolahan [<reflink idref="bib6" id="ref12">6</reflink>], 244). As John Walsh has stated, 'the Irish higher education (HE) system has undergone a far-reaching transformation over the past half century, driven in part by changing social and cultural norms but primarily by government intervention linked to the dominant national priority of economic development'. Human Capital theory, the view that 'investment in people produced a greater return of investment than investment in physical capital' was highly significant in making the Irish third-level education system more reflective of patterns in Western Europe (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref13">25</reflink>], 5–6).</p> <p>Between 1922 and the late 1950s higher education had largely been neglected by the Irish government. However, in 1957, 'a commission on accommodation needs', implemented under Eamon de Valera's final government, was the first attempt to critically review the third level education system. Published in 1959, the commission's report recommended that investment should be prioritised as 'a national priority' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref14">25</reflink>], 10–12). It highlighted the necessity of the movement of University College Dublin to Belfield and urged that improvements to accommodation for the University Colleges in Galway and Cork be undertaken.</p> <p>Of key significance to higher education's transformation in the Republic of Ireland was the government-commissioned <emph>Investment in Education</emph> report. This was overseen by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and was undertaken between 1962 and 1965 (Coolahan [<reflink idref="bib6" id="ref15">6</reflink>], 165). As Brendan Walsh has written, this was 'a turning point in how the state understood provision, particularly at second and third-level' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib24" id="ref16">24</reflink>], 56). Sèamas Ó Buachalla has stated that it 'illustrated convincingly the nature and the extent of inequality' within the Irish education system (Ó Buachalla [<reflink idref="bib19" id="ref17">19</reflink>], 72). In particular, an emphasis on university preparation for profession careers was notable and while the ideals of John Henry Newman and liberal education were worth respecting, in reality these did not fit the needs of the majority of people in Irish society. The OECD examiners' analysis had a strong influence on the policy changes announced by Minister for Education, Patrick Hillery. In 1963, Hillery proposed the development of Regional Technical Colleges and a Leaving Certificate which placed more emphasis on technical subjects in a move which sought to improve the Higher Education system, which had been focused on the elite status of universities (Coolahan [<reflink idref="bib6" id="ref18">6</reflink>], 249).</p> <p>In turn, the Report of the Commission on Higher Education, initiated in 1960 although not published until 1967, was also important in changing the way third-level education in Ireland was structured, and in the founding of the Higher Education Authority in 1968 (Coolahan [<reflink idref="bib6" id="ref19">6</reflink>], 244–246). This latter development, according to John Walsh, 'created an institution fulfilling many of the functions proposed by the [1959] report' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref20">25</reflink>], 12). The Steering Committee on Technical Education report, completed in 1967, 'reflected the growing importance of vocational imperatives linked to economic development in HE policy'. By the early 1970s, this change in government policy saw the expansion of higher technical education, with nine regional technical colleges in operation throughout Ireland by the latter part of this decade. They illustrated 'a strong vocational orientation' and were 'designed to prepare students for employment in trade and industry'. In addition, the National Institute of Higher Education in Limerick became operational in 1972, with the second NIHE, located in Ballymun, functional eight years later, while the Dublin Institute of Technology was established in 1978. Significantly, the establishment of the RTCs and the NIHEs 'transformed the educational opportunities available to vocational pupils' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref21">25</reflink>], 21–23).</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-5">Academic studies of professional footballers and third level education</hd> <p>Whether or not these changes have led to greater participation of professional footballers within third-level education, or if the levels of education players have obtained prior to and after their careers have ended have improved, has received scarce academic attention. In particular, despite this widening of access to third-level education within Irish society, no studies have been undertaken to examine how this has affected Irish-born football migrants. This is an employment area which traditionally has a mix of those who neglect completion of secondary education in Ireland in order to move across to Britain and others who have been recruited while in their early twenties as adults and League of Ireland or Irish League players.</p> <p>Specialised studies of professional footballers' attitudes towards third-level education have been scarce within the academic historiography of professional football. The work of Andrew Parker, based on research undertaken on the educational structure for trainees at English league club 'Colby Town' (a pseudonym used to protect the club's real identity) in the 1993–1994 season, has shown that despite the provision of a system for gaining 'A' Levels, Business and Technology Educational Council (BTEC) and City and Guilds certificates, education was seen as worthless by many of the players and was actively discouraged at a formal and informal level by some club staff (Parker [<reflink idref="bib20" id="ref22">20</reflink>], 61–76). Gavin Brown and Paul Potrac have illustrated how some academy players at an unnamed professional football club in England were actively discouraged from pursuing advanced studies such as 'A' levels as it was felt there would be too much work required, which would result in increased tiredness (Brown and Potrac [<reflink idref="bib3" id="ref23">3</reflink>], 150). Similarly, Christopher Hickey and Peter Kelly's studies of Australian Football League players have demonstrated that although 'time and access' issues are common, the biggest hindrance to achieving educational goals was a 'general lack of focus and commitment', with the game unsurprisingly given priority by players and their clubs (Hickey and Kelly [<reflink idref="bib15" id="ref24">15</reflink>], 491). The work of Platts and Smith has shown that 'education was for many players something in which they had little interest and about which they recalled numerous negative experiences, largely because of the conventional approaches clubs adopted towards education', although attitudes towards educational aspirations differed amongst the 313 young professional footballers in England and Wales utilised in that study, undertaken in 2012 (Platts and Smith [<reflink idref="bib21" id="ref25">21</reflink>], 5 and 15).</p> <p>Recently, work on Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland-born football migrants has illustrated how the levels of education available to professional footballers at their clubs has been inadequate for some players while tiredness and a lack of interest in sitting in the classroom were identified as problematic by one player in completing studies. The need to rest and conserve energy as a professional footballer was also highlighted (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref26">7</reflink>], 296). In addition, the scheduling of tours around exam times along with a lack of choice in courses were mentioned by players interviewed as curtailing studies while playing, while the migratory nature of the game meant that some players who were enrolled in university courses did not complete them (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref27">7</reflink>], 293, 297). However, less has been written on these players' pre-university educational pathways and accessibility into third-level education and if the wider evolution of university access has led to professional footballers gaining increased opportunities for attainment of university qualifications before, during and after their playing careers.</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-6">Post-playing careers and education</hd> <p>In the period from 1945 until 2010, 500 Republic of Ireland-born footballers made at least one appearance in the Premier League or English Football League. Recent research undertaken by this author on the post-playing careers of 188 Republic of Ireland-born migrants from the 1945–2010 period whose post-professional football careers have been positively identified has shown that the majority of these players have attempted to remain in the football industry and other related occupations (combined) (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref28">7</reflink>], 279). Almost 67% of Republic of Ireland-born players did this. Only five Republic of Ireland-born players were identified as taking up positions in the educational sector (2.65%). While there are now more opportunities for players to get involved as agents and in sports science-related work within the game, there is strong evidence to suggest that education of players with a view to a post-playing career has been neglected within professional football clubs (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref29">7</reflink>], 278–279 and 282–283). This comes despite the development of educational structures through apprentice, Youth Training Scheme and academy systems in the late twentieth century. (Table 1).</p> <p>Table 1. Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who have obtained third-level degrees and their subject area, 1945–2010.</p> <p> <ephtml> &lt;table&gt;&lt;thead valign="bottom"&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Player&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Playing era in England&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Main area of study undertaken&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/thead&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Kevin O'Flanaghan&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1945&amp;#8211;1947&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Medicine-doctor&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Pat Brady&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1959&amp;#8211;1965&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Economics teaching&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Steve Heighway&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1970&amp;#8211;1981&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Economics &amp; politics&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Des Kelly&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1970&amp;#8211;1971&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;PE and religion teaching&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Maurice Daly&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1973&amp;#8211;1976&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Computer analysis&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Kevin Moran&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1978&amp;#8211;1992&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Commerce&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Brian Mooney&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1983&amp;#8211;1992&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Business/education&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Kenneth O'Doherty&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1985&amp;#8211;1992&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Science&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Tony McCarthy&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1992&amp;#8211;1997&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;BA in geography &amp; politics&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;David Worrell&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1995&amp;#8211;2000&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Finance&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Richie Sadlier&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1996&amp;#8211;2003&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Sports science &amp; coaching&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Richie Partridge&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1997&amp;#8211;2010&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Physiotherapy&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Seamus Kelly&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1998&amp;#8211;2000&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Business&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Colin Cryan&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1999&amp;#8211;2005&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Physical education&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Fred Murray&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1999&amp;#8211;2012&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Physiotherapy&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Leon McSweeney&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;2001&amp;#8211;2014&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Geography/sports and leisure management&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;Michael Reddy&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;1999&amp;#8211;2007&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td&gt;Business&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt; </ephtml> </p> <p>An assessment of the playing careers of 188 players born in the Republic of Ireland who migrated to England between 1945 and 2010 and whose post-playing careers were positively identified shows that only seventeen (9.04%) were found to have obtained university degrees at some point (Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref30">7</reflink>], 288). These players and the main subject areas they undertook are identified in the table below. As can be seen, until the 1970s, Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who undertook third-level degrees were few, with only two noted in the period from 1945 until 1970. Two 1970s graduates obtained their degrees outside Ireland. Steve Heighway gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and politics at the University of Warwickshire before focusing full-time on football, while Maurice Daly was given the opportunity to undertake a degree in computers at Stockholm University while at a Swedish club (<emph>Irish Press</emph>, 14 March 1980 and Curran [<reflink idref="bib7" id="ref31">7</reflink>], 238).</p> <p>The majority of players identified here generally undertook their degrees in the 1990s and early 2000s, which may be reflective of greater access opportunities within the Irish third-level system to some extent. By the late twentieth century, government policies became more focused on reducing inequalities within university participation such as socio-economic differences, and 'a variety of initiatives were undertaken' in this regard. These included the removal of third-level fees and, as John Walsh states, the distribution of 'a significant proportion of third-level places' through the establishment of access programmes and non-traditional routes of access. By 2010, third-level enrolments had doubled from 84,073 in 1992 to 192,345 in forty institutions, including seven universities and fourteen Institutes of Technology (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib26" id="ref32">26</reflink>], 47–48).</p> <p>Some Irish-born football migrants such as Richie Sadlier and Brian Mooney entered university as mature students, which had become a more common entry route into Irish universities by the late twentieth century (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref33">36</reflink>]; Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref34">44</reflink>]). By 2006 mature students accounted for 13% of full-time entrants in the Republic of Ireland, although 'the proportion of the adult population in higher education or training remained below E[uropean]U[nion] and OECD averages' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib26" id="ref35">26</reflink>], 48). These two players were also recorded as having completed postgraduate studies. One player, Seamus Kelly, completed a doctoral degree in 2011, but this was after retiring from professional football (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref36">45</reflink>]). The OECD report of 2004 'recommended an intensification of government policies to promote research and expand postgraduate numbers, advising a doubling of the number of PhD students in higher education' (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib26" id="ref37">26</reflink>], 50). However, there is scarce evidence that the number of professional footballers undertaking post-graduate studies in Ireland has increased significantly in the early twenty-first century.</p> <p>For those who did not sign as trainee or academy players, gaining additional educational qualifications and entry to third-level education has generally been self-initiated. Richie Sadlier began his entry into third-level education in 2002 after he gained a place at the University of Surrey to study sports science and coaching. He later returned to Dublin, where, having completed a diploma in the Dublin Business School, he finished a Master's in Psychotherapy in 2014 (Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref38">44</reflink>]). Sadlier is one of a small number of professional footballers from the Republic of Ireland who have shown an awareness of the value of education and have gone on to undertake post-graduate studies. Similarly, Brian Mooney returned to Dublin in 1992 and has completed degrees at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Mooney began his degree in Sunderland as a player before transferring universities on moving back to play in the League of Ireland (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref39">36</reflink>]). Crucially, they both had completed their Leaving Certificate before moving to England. Both cited their families' encouragement of participation in education as stimulating their interests in pursuing third-level qualifications (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref40">36</reflink>]; Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref41">44</reflink>]). This point is important as one recent study undertaken of access programmes in Ireland identified the influence of families in the decision to return to education (Fleming and Finnegan [<reflink idref="bib11" id="ref42">11</reflink>], 147–148). Only a few of these players with degrees have completed third-level education before moving to England. However, there have been a few exceptions, including Kevin Moran, who undertook a degree in commerce at UCD before moving to Manchester United in 1978, while Seamus Kelly had completed a similar degree at that institution before moving to Cardiff City in 1998 (<emph>Irish Press</emph>, 20 October 1976 and Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref43">45</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-7">The importance of second-level qualifications</hd> <p>Although the third-level system in the Republic of Ireland has recently become more welcoming for those without secondary school qualifications with foundation courses being introduced to gain university access, for much of the twentieth century this was not the case. English and international Professional footballers without 'A' Level or final secondary education examination qualifications are not uncommon. A failure to complete the final stages of secondary level education to university level access was also a similar pattern for non-Irish born professional footballers (Davies [<reflink idref="bib8" id="ref44">8</reflink>], 344 and 363–368). Some players, including Brian Mooney, Barry Prenderville and Richie Sadlier, waited until they had finished their Leaving Certificate before moving to England despite being offered places at professional clubs prior to this (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref45">36</reflink>]; Prenderville [<reflink idref="bib35" id="ref46">35</reflink>]; Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref47">44</reflink>]). Sadlier noted that</p> <p>In the summer of 5th year-in the summer of '95, Millwall offered me a two year contract and I said 'no' to it because I wanted to stay and do my Leaving Cert., that was the advice that Belvedere F.C. gave me-if they want you now they want you in a year-which is a tough thing to do at that age, to say 'no' to a contract-because you just don't know what's going to happen until the following year, but at the time I just thought, 'it just makes far more sense to stay and do my Leaving'. I was all right in school and I knew I would get an honours Leaving Cert., so I stayed and I got that, and then I went over. (Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref48">44</reflink>])</p> <p>Michael McHugh similarly waited before joining Bradford City in 1989 although he admitted his studies had lessened as he knew he was moving (McHugh [<reflink idref="bib41" id="ref49">41</reflink>]), while Barry Prenderville felt he could have obtained more points in his exams if he had not been as focused on football (Prenderville [<reflink idref="bib35" id="ref50">35</reflink>]). Similarly, Denis Behan had completed his Leaving Certificate and had been offered a place at Tralee Institute of Technology but decided to join Brentford in 2001 (Behan [<reflink idref="bib39" id="ref51">39</reflink>]). However, these players' moves came in an era when access to both secondary school and third-level education was more commonplace.</p> <p>1960 Aston Villa recruit, Alfie Hale, noted when interviewed for this study that he did not have the opportunity to undertake final secondary school examinations as his family expected him to get a job as a teenager, and felt that in that era, most players and their parents were not overly concerned about second or third-level education (Hale [<reflink idref="bib34" id="ref52">34</reflink>]). Similarly, most clubs gave scarce encouragement to players in regard to educational opportunities. Despite this, many aspiring footballers with no second-level qualifications at that time were part of a wider trend within Irish society, as by the middle of the 1950s approximately two-thirds of young school-leavers in the Republic of Ireland were aged fourteen. In the following decade, only one-fifth of Irish Republic-born migrants in Britain were thought to have attended secondary school in their native country (Delaney [<reflink idref="bib9" id="ref53">9</reflink>], 32). Shortly after the introduction of free secondary school education in the Republic of Ireland in 1966, one survey of Irish migrants taken in the early 1970s highlighted that 75% had finished their education having only completed primary school (Delaney [<reflink idref="bib9" id="ref54">9</reflink>], 31–32). Completing secondary school in Ireland has also remained problematic for many aspiring Irish football migrants. This is generally because most aspiring Irish-born football migrants are mainly recruited by English clubs as teenagers. As Bourke illustrated in her 2003 study of Irish teenage players, 'a large proportion of intending professionals opt to forego career advice in school and rely on external social networks to advance their career.' (Bourke [<reflink idref="bib1" id="ref55">1</reflink>], 416).</p> <p>Following the implementation of the Youth Training Schemes in the late twentieth century, the development of English academies linked with player education by the early 2000s has ensured that teenagers there will have more opportunity to gain some form of final second-level qualifications at the very least. Fulham FC, for example, state that they offer 'academic support' for players to work towards 'A' Level and BTEC qualifications with the London club claiming on their website in 2017 that '100% of participants achieved a positive exit route' last season ('Football and Education', [<reflink idref="bib12" id="ref56">12</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-8">Players' experiences of higher education</hd> <p>A number of Irish players interviewed commented that there was no great emphasis placed on education at their clubs. Mick Meagan, who joined Everton in 1952, felt that more could have been done to keep players occupied off the pitch, particularly in providing night classes, but there was no provision made for these at that time (Meagan [<reflink idref="bib42" id="ref57">42</reflink>]). Paddy Mulligan, who joined Chelsea in 1969, noted that there was no educational system for young players at that time, stating that</p> <p>you were going to be a professional footballer, that was it, there was no such thing as 'well, if you don't make it, then so what ... you'll go to another club-you'll go to Reading-or you'll go to Millwall, or you'll go to Crystal Palace, or you'll go wherever, that's it, you're a footballer, that's all you can do.' And that's how you were perceived. (Mulligan)</p> <p>As manager of Gillingham in the late 1980s, Damien Richardson was actively involved in ensuring young players there fulfilled their educational requirements as apprentices and that parents had the opportunity to express their views (Richardson [<reflink idref="bib37" id="ref58">37</reflink>]). Richardson appears to have been an exception within English football in that era. Brian Mooney stated that after joining Liverpool in 1983, he had been set up by the club's youth development officer to undertake evening classes through the encouragement of his father, but with little supervision by the club, he lost interest in attending as his focus was mainly on professional football then (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref59">36</reflink>]). However, towards the end of his career in England, he completed a BTEC course in business studies at Sunderland University which assisted him in returning to education when he moved back to Ireland (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref60">36</reflink>]). Similarly, Michael McHugh recalled that he had the option of doing a part-time college course on joining Bradford City in 1989, but no pressure was put on players by the club to complete this (McHugh [<reflink idref="bib41" id="ref61">41</reflink>]). He added that 'it wasn't really serious college ... probably a box-ticking course' (McHugh [<reflink idref="bib41" id="ref62">41</reflink>]). On returning to Ireland in the 1990s, he became an account technician having initially completed a FÁS course while playing part-time in the Irish League (McHugh [<reflink idref="bib41" id="ref63">41</reflink>]). Despite signing as an academy player at Brentford in 2001, Denis Behan did not participate in any education courses as he was a bit older than the other scholars and had completed his Leaving Certificate. He also wanted to work in a part-time job to earn extra money, and did this unobstructed by his club (Behan [<reflink idref="bib39" id="ref64">39</reflink>]). More than one player interviewed here was of the view that once a player signed, they were left to do what they wanted away from the club (Mooney [<reflink idref="bib36" id="ref65">36</reflink>]; Prenderville [<reflink idref="bib35" id="ref66">35</reflink>]; Russell [<reflink idref="bib40" id="ref67">40</reflink>]). This comes despite early finishes in training and the amount of time left idle, with Dean Kelly stating that there was too much time to think while sitting around in the house after training ended every day (Kelly, [<reflink idref="bib38" id="ref68">38</reflink>]). As a player at Cardiff City in the late 1990s, Seamus Kelly began a course in finance at Cardiff University to keep himself occupied off the pitch but later had to withdraw as he took up the offer of first team football again back in Ireland, illustrating further how the migratory nature of professional football can also impact on players' third-level education (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref69">45</reflink>]).</p> <p>Some of players interviewed have faced difficulties in gaining recognition of other qualifications of a lower level in their attempts to gain places at college or university. Martin Russell noted that the system of education for young players at Manchester United in the 1980s was quite basic, with only one day a week given to a course in sports and recreation, which he felt would not have been enough to get into university (Russell [<reflink idref="bib40" id="ref70">40</reflink>]). Shane Supple, a former academy and first team player who retired from English professional football in 2009, stated when interviewed that life in the Ipswich Town Academy was</p> <p>great-very enjoyable, we had a good bunch of lads, we all got on well, the coaches were fantastic, I really enjoyed my time there, they had a great reputation for bringing through young players so it was another reason why I chose to go there as well. (Supple [<reflink idref="bib46" id="ref71">46</reflink>])</p> <p>The school system there allowed players to undertake GCSEs and A' Levels, and players attended for a full-day on a Wednesday and on Thursday mornings. However, he found that, unlike Mooney, his BTEC and National Diploma qualifications gained through Ipswich Town's academy were of little use in attempting to gain university access on returning home to Ireland and felt that there had not been 'much expected of us really, just to turn up' (Supple [<reflink idref="bib46" id="ref72">46</reflink>]).</p> <p>Similarly, Richie Sadlier noted in relation to the education system at Millwall in the 1990s, that 'it wasn't much of a standard at all' (Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref73">44</reflink>]). As Harding has written, 'while some clubs encouraged their apprentices to attend college, most did not and for many full-time professionals, peer group pressure plus unofficial club/manager policy tended to banish all thoughts of academic improvement' (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref74">14</reflink>], 179).</p> <p>As Seamus Kelly has noted, 'dressing room culture can marginalise players interested in engaging with educational discourse' (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib18" id="ref75">18</reflink>], 85). Attitudes towards the value of education have been slow to evolve within professional football clubs and it is therefore debateable whether they have changed much since the since the early 1970s when Tottenham Hotspur manager Bill Nicholson stated that 'it's a football brain that matters and that usually doesn't go with an academic brain. In fact I prefer it when it doesn't. I prefer players not to be too good or clever at other things. It means they concentrate on football' (Davies [<reflink idref="bib8" id="ref76">8</reflink>], 70). Concerns over the status of his future saw Richie Sadlier come into conflict with his club, Millwall, in the early 2000s, after expressing doubt about his future while out with a long-term injury, with the player noting that 'if you're going to prepare for life after football, you've got to do it on your own terms away from the club' (Sadlier [<reflink idref="bib44" id="ref77">44</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-9">Soccer scholarships and universities</hd> <p>One way in which aspiring players in Ireland can gain educational qualifications is through soccer scholarships, although by the time they complete these their chances of earning a move to an English club will probably have lessened and the number of players recruited in this way each year remains small. While the first Irish-born player to gain a US soccer scholarship, Greg McElroy, moved to the University of South Florida in 1969, Irish universities have been slower to establish these (<emph>Irish Press</emph>, 21 July 1970). The UCD soccer scholarship system, initiated by Dr Tony O'Neill, has been operational since 1979 with 'normal academic' standards required along with football talent to obtain a position as student (<emph>Soccer Magazine</emph>, 79, 1993, 27 and <emph>Irish Press</emph>, 24 April 1992). It was also said to be 'the most successful of its kind in Europe' by the late twentieth century (<emph>Soccer Magazine</emph>, 79, 1993, 27), and is still operational today. When interviewed in 2013, then UCD manager Martin Russell noted the success of the system for aspiring players:</p> <p>we've proven that it works, like Paul Corry for example has come and done his degree with us here and joined a Championship side in the UK. The majority of players that have completed the UCD scholarship system, are top players that are always wanted by the top clubs in Ireland so it's a pathway for a kid that comes into us at the age of seventeen, eighteenth, and we try and build on what they have. (Russell [<reflink idref="bib40" id="ref78">40</reflink>])</p> <p>While there are no current figures available for successful completion rates of the scholarship or transfers to English clubs, by the 1992–1993 season at least 100 players were estimated to have successfully participated and completed the course (<emph>Soccer Magazine</emph>, 79, 1993, 27 and <emph>Irish Press</emph>, 24 April 1992). A few Irish-born players who broke into English league football, Seamus Kelly, Ken O'Doherty and Tony McCarthy obtained places in university through UCD's football scholarship scheme, and significantly all had completed the Leaving Certificate examination (<emph>Soccer Magazine</emph>, 92, 1994, 10–11). Those with aspirations of a career in professional football but who would like to link this with academic qualifications can apply for a scholarship within some third-level universities in Ireland, although this is dependent on points obtained in secondary level examinations.</p> <p>Kelly participated in the scholarship scheme there from 1993 until 1996 as a Bachelor of Commerce student, having gained the required number of points in his Leaving Certificate and impressed in the football trials. Along with studying and playing in the UCD first team in the League of Ireland, he trained three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays. He noted that he had the chance to sign for Oldham after his first year there but the move was blocked by UCD and he is now grateful they did as he finished his degree (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref79">45</reflink>]). He added that the experience at college also gave him more perspective:</p> <p>I went to UCD and we got an education, which we didn't really realise how important that was at the time-but I went to Cardiff City, and that was really cut-throat and insecure, because, the lads used to be laughing, 'you've got a degree in your back pocket', and I was there, 'yeh, yeh,'- 'What's it in?'-'It's in commerce'- (they replied) 'Jesus I'd love to have one of them.' I went 'Well I would have loved to have done what you did (in football).' So I always had that in my back pocket to fall back on, whereas if you didn't, maybe you might have been more committed at the time-you know when you're in a corner you've got nothing else, you've really got to make it work. (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref80">45</reflink>])</p> <p>Now Director of Sports Studies at UCD, he is actively involved in the mentoring of those undertaking scholarships. He noted that in terms of moving to England,</p> <p>I think it's better than playing, going over at sixteen, playing academy matches, reserve matches, living away from home, faced with competition, probably fifty or sixty other players coming in and out throughout the year, that you probably don't develop mentally or physically, although physically you probably will over there because you'll be hammered. I think you'll get a better rounded person [at college]. (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref81">45</reflink>])</p> <p>By the latter decade of the twentieth century scholarship systems were being established in other universities. In 1990 the FAI announced that a pilot scheme would be implemented at the five universities which had teams in regular competitive action (i.e. the Collingwood Cup). These were UCD, University College Cork, University College Galway, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin (<emph>Irish Examiner</emph>, 5 January 1990). A scholarship of the value of £1500 was to be awarded at each university, with Dr Tony O'Neill, then FAI General Secretary and press officer, stating that the move by the FAI was 'in line with the association's policy to ensure that opportunities are available to young players of ability in this country who may wish to progress in the game without sacrificing their careers' (<emph>Irish Examiner</emph>, 5 January 1990). This came at a time of increased sponsorship opportunities for the FAI following the Republic of Ireland's qualification for the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the 1988 European Championships in West Germany.</p> <p>The FAI, in introducing the scholarship scheme on a national basis, was following on from developments in the provision of 'substantial grants' to the Schoolboys' Football Association of Ireland and the Football Association of Irish Schools. The third-level scholarship scheme was seen as 'a natural follow up to the development of the game' at schoolboy level (<emph>Irish Examiner</emph>, 5 January 1990) and in 1991 the UCD scheme was extended to take in rugby players (<emph>Irish Independent</emph>, 30 October 1991). The FAI had also introduced FÁS schemes for trainee footballers attached to League of Ireland clubs in 1989, although these players were not allowed to undertake full-time education. Along with football training, however, classes were provided in basic coaching, English and computer skills, while players were also educated in regard to diet and first aid. By the beginning of that decade the expansion of higher technical education saw the implementation of more apprenticeship training courses and adult education by the Irish government (Walsh [<reflink idref="bib25" id="ref82">25</reflink>], 22). Some institutions of further education accommodated classes taken by FÁS football trainees as part of their afternoon schedule, with Home Farm trainees in the mid-1990s taking computer classes at Whitehall College (<emph>Evening Herald</emph>, 23 September 1996). A few other colleges such as Coláiste Íde in Finglas offered football-centred courses with a view to US soccer scholarships, with students undertaking SAT examinations. However, those who broke into professional football in England after completing these types of courses remained few in numbers, with Roy Keane, who completed one of the first FÁS football courses available, a rare exception (<emph>Evening Herald</emph>, 23 September 1996). In 2009, UCD set up the Dr Tony O'Neill scholarship trust, to ensure the future success of their soccer scholarship scheme ('Dr Tony O'Neill Scholarship Trust Set Up', [<reflink idref="bib10" id="ref83">10</reflink>]).</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-10">The work of the Professional Footballers' Association</hd> <p>A number of Irish-born players, including Seamus Kelly, have benefited in their undertaking of third-level education through financial assistance from the English organisation, the Professional Footballers' Association (Kelly [<reflink idref="bib45" id="ref84">45</reflink>]). This system was implemented in England in 1967 for members or ex-members who wished to take up vocational training (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref85">14</reflink>], 179). They appointed their first education officer, Bob Kerry, a former teacher, in 1971 and by the following year he had developed connections with colleges throughout England and had initiated courses 'ranging from management accountancy to turf accountancy, and from fishing management to running fish and chip shops' (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref86">14</reflink>], 180). In the 1980s the PFA began to become more fully involved in educating and training young players and Harding sees the introduction of the Youth Training Schemes as 'a boon for the football industry' despite criticism from some organisations such as the Trades Union Congress who saw it as exploitative. The YTS system, he believes, helped clubs to recruit teenagers and helped their finances. By 1983 there were over 500 YTS players at eighty-two clubs (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref87">14</reflink>], 181). However, Harding admits that 'whether all clubs used the money to fund the education of their apprentices was difficult to ascertain due to an absence of rigorous monitoring' (Harding [<reflink idref="bib14" id="ref88">14</reflink>], 180). Trainees became known as 'scholars' in 1999–2000 under a new scholarship scheme with the development of academies for young players becoming more common (Hugman [<reflink idref="bib16" id="ref89">16</reflink>], 8).</p> <p>They have also directly supported retired players' access to higher education. The PFA today offer a BA in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting, 'the first of its kind' in England 'specifically designed for professional footballers', which is a two-year course at Staffordshire University (PFA.Com). They also offer degree courses in physiotherapy, business and sports science. Applicants for the BA in Sports Writing and Broadcasting are required to undertake formal interviews where their English skills are assessed. Those with no formal qualifications are assessed through a written test the journalism teaching team have drawn up, while those under twenty-one years of age are required to have 'the equivalent of two A levels or AVCS or BTEC National Diploma in a media related industry' (PFA.Com). In addition, international applicants are required to have 'a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.5' while a written assessment and interview may also be required. Finally, candidates may also be considered in view of 'Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning' or 'credits gained in prior study, work based training, substantial employment or other experiential learning.' Students are also required to have a knowledge of sport and sport media operations as well as an ambition to succeed (PFA.Com). Therefore, even with the support of the PFA, access to places on university degree courses for former professional footballers can be difficult for those with weak secondary school results.</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-11">Irish governments and the welfare of Irish football migrants</hd> <p>Despite this progress is fostering higher education linkage with professional football, Irish governments have generally been slow to pay attention to the welfare of Irish football migrants in Britain, and their educational needs, particularly when they return to Ireland following the end of their professional football careers in England, Wales or Scotland. The <emph>Commission on Emigration</emph>, initiated by the government in 1948 and published in 1954, made no reference to Irish professional footballers based in England or Scotland and failed to utilise these players or their clubs as possible interviewees for their report (<emph>Commission on Emigration</emph>, [<reflink idref="bib5" id="ref90">5</reflink>], 2, 258 and 260–261). In December 1975, then FAI Director of Coaching, John Jarman, claimed that English clubs were behaving like 'raiding vultures in a free shop window of Irish youth soccer' and stated that 'kids of all ages are pursued in Ireland and often all sorts of incentives are being offered by unscrupulous people. Money is changing hands and up to £1,000 is being offered by clubs if players make the grade' (<emph>Irish Press</emph>, 5 December 1975). When asked to comment on this in the Dáil by Deputy Seán Moore, and if his Department would do anything to ensure their protection, Minister for Education, Richard Burke, stated that 'the matter is not one in relation to which I have any function or could take any effective action' ('Written Answers', 18 December [<reflink idref="bib33" id="ref91">33</reflink>]).</p> <p>It was not until the early twenty-first century that the Irish government began to take any meaningful action in regard to Irish player welfare. In November 2000 Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid, stated that he intended to write to the European Commission to ensure that the review on international transfers at the time would be beneficial to Irish soccer and to 'ensure an equitable and fair transfer system for clubs and for players; and have regard, in particular, to the welfare of young players' ('Written Answers', 21 November [<reflink idref="bib31" id="ref92">31</reflink>]). He also noted how his department was in touch with the FAI to establish their view, particularly in regard to the migration of under eighteen players ('Written Answers', 21 November [<reflink idref="bib31" id="ref93">31</reflink>]).</p> <p>The following year Dr McDaid was again asked to comment on Irish players' transfers to Britain and noted that UEFA and FIFA had reached an agreement with the European Commission in regard to international player transfer and that the Declaration on Sport ratified in December 2000 at the European Council at Nice had also addressed the welfare and protection of young sportspeople ('Written Answers', 15 May [<reflink idref="bib32" id="ref94">32</reflink>]). However, he was reluctant to become involved in any move to change the system whereby aspiring Irish players were forced to migrate to Britain to pursue a full-time professional career, and did not comment directly on their educational needs. Instead, he stated that the FAI had employed a player welfare officer (Eoin Hand, who was actually career guidance officer from 1999 until 2012)</p> <p>to deal with the protection, welfare, educational, vocational and career guidance needs of young footballers, particularly in the context of offers to sign for clubs abroad, and in consultation also with the parents and family of the player, as appropriate. ('Written Answers', 15 May [<reflink idref="bib32" id="ref95">32</reflink>])</p> <p>He also highlighted that government funding towards sport had increased from £13.5 million when Fianna Fáil took office in 1997 to approximately £83 million in 2001 ('Written Answers', 15 May [<reflink idref="bib32" id="ref96">32</reflink>]), a development which reflected the increased affluence within Irish society at the time with the growth of the 'Celtic Tiger.'</p> <p>In April 2003, at an FAI presentation before the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Jim Glennon commended the work of Eoin Hand as FAI career guidance officer and drew attention to the system of player education and sought further information on this from the FAI representatives present ('Written Answers', 16 April [<reflink idref="bib30" id="ref97">30</reflink>]). John Byrne of the FAI commented on the lack of access to schools' and third-level institutions' facilities for playing soccer, but the topic of player education received little attention. John Fahy clarified the FAI's position on retired international players 'who fall on hard times or find themselves in difficulty' when he stated that an international players' trust fund had been in place over the past fifteen years, which was 'part-funded from a small percentage of the take' from international gates. The FAI also had in place 'a board of trustees, which includes some former international players as well as the honorary treasurer of the association' ('Written Answers', 16 April [<reflink idref="bib30" id="ref98">30</reflink>]).</p> <p>However, there was little discussion of exactly how much education young Irish players were receiving in Britain or what opportunities there were to develop non-football related careers if their football contracts were terminated. Instead, it was noted by Fahy that Hand regularly kept in touch with the players and their clubs and attended trials at Lilleshall in England which were held for players released from their clubs. Some efforts were made in conjunction with universities to cater for young players returning from English clubs. In 2002 DCU, in collaboration with the FAI and the Professional Footballers' Association in England, launched a scheme known as REAP (Reinvention, Education, Appraisal and Preparation) to help young players deal with rejection and release from their English clubs ('Written Answers', 16 April [<reflink idref="bib30" id="ref99">30</reflink>]). It was shown to have been beneficial in getting returned players into a routine, getting back into football and improving fitness, building confidence and gaining additional life-skills. Participants completed courses in career guidance, in the European Computer Driving Licence and in interview skills and the views of ten players were reported upon. At least one player had gained access to participation at UCD through REAP (Woods, Buckley, and Kirrane [<reflink idref="bib28" id="ref100">28</reflink>], 5–6). This intervention on returning home was significant as players were shown to have experienced confusion about further careers (Woods, Buckley, and Kirrane [<reflink idref="bib28" id="ref101">28</reflink>], 46). However, REAP lasted only briefly and is no longer operational, apparently due to a conflict of interests.</p> <p>It was not until November 2008 that the Irish government became directly involved in a scheme in collaboration with the FAI whereby former Irish international, Terry Conroy, was appointed as FAI player welfare officer for Britain. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michéal Martin, outlined the reason for the appointment and Conroy's duties:</p> <p>This initiative is a direct response to concerns that the welfare needs of young Irish players who travel to Britain to take up positions at professional clubs be addressed. The vast majority of these young people are ultimately released by their clubs and some experience considerable hardships, including gambling and alcohol difficulties. ... The new welfare officer will liaise with clubs in Britain on behalf of players and their families, particularly in cases where difficulties arise in relation to alcohol, substance abuse or gambling. He will work directly with the players to ensure that they are aware of local educational and other vocational training opportunities and will also be available to assist retired Irish footballers who may have fallen on hard times. ('Written Answers', 4 December [<reflink idref="bib29" id="ref102">29</reflink>])</p> <p>It was also noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs would provide a €50,000 grant towards the programme for that year with the FAI providing a matching amount, with Conroy directly employed by the football body. He was given responsibility for contacting the footballers and to report to the FAI, with the FAI then reporting to the Department. The Department was also to receive 'a comprehensive progress report' at the end of the first year ('Written Answers', 4 December [<reflink idref="bib29" id="ref103">29</reflink>]). In a 2011 report completed by Conroy it was stated that 'many of the young Irish players experience problems such as homesickness, bullying, rejection and disciplinary issues' (Brennan, 'Young Irish Players', 3 October [<reflink idref="bib2" id="ref104">2</reflink>]). In addition, it was stated that '85 per cent of those who sign professional contracts with a club at the age of sixteen will no longer be there three years later'(Brennan, 'Young Irish Players', 3 October [<reflink idref="bib2" id="ref105">2</reflink>]). However, these developments have come relatively recently. This only recent Irish government intervention comes despite the traditional lack of post-playing career opportunities afforded to players who retire from professional football in England.</p> <hd id="AN0142200304-12">Conclusion</hd> <p>Irish-born football migrants, and other professional footballers, are in some ways at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining entry to a university or third-level institution. Many players will not have completed the standard second-level examinations in the Republic of Ireland before leaving home. Therefore those who have not done their final second level examinations may still have to undertake the traditional entry route into third-level education, which is based on points in these exams. While access has also recently been widened through foundation courses, it is unclear if returning players receive any instruction on the availability. Admittedly, some players, such as Richie Sadlier, have taken the decision to finish their secondary level exams before joining English clubs, and a small number were also found to have completed third-level education before migrating to England. This comes despite the general notion within English football that players should be recruited into professional football as teenagers (and generally before finishing final secondary level examinations) so clubs can mould them as players.</p> <p>The structure for player education at clubs has been shown to be difficult to negotiate for a number of players. While the provision of education through club academies is a fairly recent development, historically, clubs neglected to cater for players' educational needs until the introduction of the YTS system in the 1980s. However, the level of educational involvement has been minimal in comparison to actually attending school every day like other teenagers, with requirements placed on players to attend for only one day a week. Football is unsurprisingly prioritised by clubs and the vast majority of players. While there is evidence to suggest that German clubs cater for developing young players' personalities with a view to making them more balanced individuals, it is unclear whether this is an aspect assessed within English clubs' academies (Gheerbrant [<reflink idref="bib13" id="ref106">13</reflink>]).</p> <p>Steps undertaken by the government in the Republic of Ireland to cater from players deselected from English football clubs have been a fairly recent development, but at the moment, there is no formal national system in place to cater for returning players. English clubs now have player welfare and education officers in place, but gaining access to third-level education in order to gain non-football related work qualifications remains a challenge for many players, and some clubs have been shown to discourage players from thinking too much about a career outside the game. Admittedly, many players are not interested in pursuing educational qualifications. Despite the widening of access to third-level education in Ireland, the majority of Irish-born football migrants remain at a disadvantage in seeking alternative careers, and this remains a problem in re-entering Irish society as non-full-time professional footballers. Professional footballers who have obtained third-level educational qualifications have traditionally been seen in the media and in society as something as a novelty ('Which Footballers Have Degrees?', [<reflink idref="bib27" id="ref107">27</reflink>]) and this will probably continue for some time.</p> <p>Notes on contributor</p> <p> <emph> <bold>Conor Curran</bold> </emph> is an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Education at Trinity College, Dublin where he is completing a study of the history of physical education in Ireland. Previously, he worked as a lecturer in Irish history at Dublin City University's Open Education Unit and has taught sports history at the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University, Leicester. His Ph.D. thesis was published as <emph>The Development of Sport in Donegal, 1880–1935</emph> by Cork University Press in 2015. In 2013 he was awarded a FIFA Havelange Research Scholarship to examine the migration of Irish footballers to Britain. This was published as <emph>Irish Soccer Migrants: a Social and Cultural History</emph> by Cork University Press in 2017. He is also co-editor of <emph>New Perspectives on Association Football in Irish History</emph> (Routledge, 2018).</p> <ref id="AN0142200304-13"> <title> References </title> <blist> <bibl id="bib1" idref="ref55" type="bt">1</bibl> <bibtext> Bourke, A. 2003. " The Dream of Being a Professional Soccer Player: Insights on Career Development Options of Young Irish Players." Journal of Sport &amp; Social Issues 27 (4): 399 – 419.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib2" idref="ref104" type="bt">2</bibl> <bibtext> Brennan, M. 2011. "Young Irish Players are victims of Bullying at English Clubs." October 3. Accessed July 15, 2013. <ulink href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/young-irish-players-are-victims-of-bullying-at-english-soccer-clubs-26777943.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/young-irish-players-are-victims-of-bullying-at-english-soccer-clubs-26777943.html</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib3" idref="ref23" type="bt">3</bibl> <bibtext> Brown, G., and P. Potrac. 2009. " You've Not Made the Grade, Son': De-Selection and Identity Disruption in Elite Youth Level Football." Soccer &amp; Society 10 (2): 143 – 159. doi: 10.1080/14660970802601613</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib4" idref="ref9" type="bt">4</bibl> <bibtext> Carlisle, C. 2013. "Depression and Suicide: Football's Secret Uncovered." Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/23226524">http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/23226524</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib5" idref="ref90" type="bt">5</bibl> <bibtext> Commission on Emigration and Other Population Problems 1948-54: Reports. 1955. Dublin: The Stationery Office.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib6" idref="ref12" type="bt">6</bibl> <bibtext> Coolahan, J. 1981. Irish Education: History and Structure. Dublin : Institute of Public Administration.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib7" idref="ref4" type="bt">7</bibl> <bibtext> Curran, C. 2017. Irish Soccer Migrants: A Social and Cultural History. Cork : Cork University Press.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib8" idref="ref2" type="bt">8</bibl> <bibtext> Davies, H. 2001. The Glory Game: The New Edition of the British Football Classic. Edinburgh : Mainstream.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibl id="bib9" idref="ref53" type="bt">9</bibl> <bibtext> Delaney, E. 2013. The Irish in Post-War Britain. Paperback ed. Oxford : Oxford University Press.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Dr Tony O'Neill Scholarship Trust Set Up." Accessed August 25, 2018. <ulink href="http://www.ucdsoccer.com/airtricity-league/38-archive/518">http://www.ucdsoccer.com/airtricity-league/38-archive/518</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Fleming, T., and F. Finnegan. 2014. " A Critical Journey Towards Lifelong Learning: Including Non-Traditional Students in University." In Higher Education in Ireland: Practices, Policies and Possibilities, edited by A. Loxley, A. Seery, and J. Walsh, 146 – 158. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Football &amp; Education." Accessed December 24, 2017. https://<ulink href="http://www.fulhamfc.com/fulham-fc-foundation/education-and-training/football-and-education">www.fulhamfc.com/fulham-fc-foundation/education-and-training/football-and-education</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Gheerbrant, J. 2017. "How Genetics and Education Made Sané a Fearsome Modern Athlete." The Times, December 23.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Harding, J. 2009. Behind the Glory: 100 Years of the PFA. Derby : Breedon Books.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Hickey, C., and P. Kelly. 2008. " Preparing to not be a Footballer: Higher Education and Professional Sport." Sport, Education and Society 13 (4): 477 – 494. doi: 10.1080/13573320802445132</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Hugman, Barry J. 2005. The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records, 1946–2005. Harpenden : Queen Anne Press.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Jones, L., and J. Dennison. 2017. " Challenge and Relief: A Foucaldian Disciplinary Analysis of Retirement from Professional Association Football in the United Kingdom." International Review for the Sociology of Sport 52 (8): 924 – 939. doi: 10.1177/1012690215625348</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Kelly, S. 2014. " The Migration of Irish Professional Footballers: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." In Football and Migration: Perspectives, Places, Players, edited by Richard Elliott and John Harris, 76 – 92. London : Routledge.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Ó Buachalla, S. 1988. Education Policy in Twentieth Century Ireland. Dublin : Wolfhound Press.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Parker, A. 2000. " Training for 'Glory', Schooling for 'Failure'?: English Professional Football, Traineeship and Educational Provision." Journal of Education and Work 13 (1): 61 – 76. doi: 10.1080/136390800112231</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Platts, C., and A. Smith. 2018. " 'We Don't Need No Education'? Exploring the Educational Experiences of Young Footballers." British Journal of Sociology of Education, doi: 10.1080/01425692.2018.1434408.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Sadlier, R. May 12, 2017 "I Had Contacted a Solicitor. I Had Started Writing a Will' Richie Sadlier Reveals He Contemplated Suicide." Accessed December 17, 2017. https://<ulink href="http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-had-contacted-a-solicitor-i-had-started-writing-a-will-richie-sadlier-reveals-he-contemplated-suicide-35707982.html">www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-had-contacted-a-solicitor-i-had-started-writing-a-will-richie-sadlier-reveals-he-contemplated-suicide-35707982.html</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "The PFA.Com: Sports Writing and Broadcasting." Accessed December 8, 2017. https://<ulink href="http://www.thepfa.com/education/courses/sportswritingbroadcasting">www.thepfa.com/education/courses/sportswritingbroadcasting</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Walsh, B. 2011. " History of Education in Ireland." In Education Studies in Ireland: The Key Disciplines, edited by B. Walsh, 34 – 37. Dublin : Gill.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Walsh, J. 2014a. " The Transformation of Higher Education, 1945–80." In Higher Education in Ireland: Practices, Policies and Possibilities, edited by A. Loxley, A. Seery, and J. Walsh, 5 – 32. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Walsh, J. 2014b. " A Contemporary History of Irish Higher Education, 1980–2011." In Higher Education in Ireland: Practices, Policies and Possibilities, edited by A. Loxley, A. Seery, and J. Walsh, 33 – 53. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Which Footballers Have Degrees?" Accessed November 30, 2017. https://<ulink href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/11/the-knowledge-footballers-degrees">www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/11/the-knowledge-footballers-degrees</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Woods, Catherine, Finian Buckley, and Melrona Kirrane. 2005. " Career Transitions in Young Footballers: A Study of How Young Players Cope with Selection and Deselection in Football." In A Report for the Football Association of Ireland and the Professional Footballers Association. Dublin : Dublin City University.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Written Answers; Departmental Schemes." December 4, 2008. Dáil Éireann Debate, Vol. 671, No. 1. Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2008120400110?opendocument&amp;highlight=terry%20conroy">http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2008120400110?opendocument&amp;highlight=terry%20conroy</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Written Answers: Football Association of Ireland: Presentation." April 16, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/TOJ2003041600003?opendocument&amp;highlight=eoin%20hand">http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/TOJ2003041600003?opendocument&amp;highlight=eoin%20hand</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Written Answers: Football Players' Transfer System." November 21, 2000. Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2000112100242?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer">http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2000112100242?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Written Answers: International Soccer Transfers." May 15, 2001. Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2001051500296?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer">http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2001051500296?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> "Written Answers: Soccer Youth." December 18, 1975. Dáil Éireann Debate. Vol. 286, No. 12. Accessed December 6, 2017. <ulink href="http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail1975121800077?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer">http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail1975121800077?opendocument&amp;highlight=soccer</ulink>.</bibtext> </blist> </ref> <ref id="AN0142200304-14"> <title> Player interviews </title> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Alfie Hale, September 27, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Barry Prenderville, July 12, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Brian Mooney, September 30, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Damien Richardson, August 13, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Dean Kelly, January 13, 2014.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Denis Behan, December 6, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Martin Russell, July 11, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Michael McHugh, October 29, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Mick Meagan, November 11, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Paddy Mulligan, November 13, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Richard Sadlier, July 23, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Seamus Kelly, August 22, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> <blist> <bibtext> Interview with Shane Supple, July 8, 2013.</bibtext> </blist> </ref> <aug> <p>By Conor Curran</p> <p>Reported by Author</p> </aug> <nolink nlid="nl1" bibid="bib26" firstref="ref1"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl2" bibid="bib25" firstref="ref3"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl3" bibid="bib15" firstref="ref7"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl4" bibid="bib14" firstref="ref8"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl5" bibid="bib17" firstref="ref10"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl6" bibid="bib22" firstref="ref11"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl7" bibid="bib24" firstref="ref16"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl8" bibid="bib19" firstref="ref17"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl9" bibid="bib20" firstref="ref22"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl10" bibid="bib21" firstref="ref25"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl11" bibid="bib36" firstref="ref33"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl12" bibid="bib44" firstref="ref34"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl13" bibid="bib45" firstref="ref36"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl14" bibid="bib11" firstref="ref42"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl15" bibid="bib35" firstref="ref46"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl16" bibid="bib41" firstref="ref49"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl17" bibid="bib39" firstref="ref51"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl18" bibid="bib34" firstref="ref52"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl19" bibid="bib12" firstref="ref56"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl20" bibid="bib42" firstref="ref57"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl21" bibid="bib37" firstref="ref58"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl22" bibid="bib40" firstref="ref67"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl23" bibid="bib38" firstref="ref68"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl24" bibid="bib46" firstref="ref71"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl25" bibid="bib18" firstref="ref75"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl26" bibid="bib10" firstref="ref83"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl27" bibid="bib16" firstref="ref89"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl28" bibid="bib33" firstref="ref91"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl29" bibid="bib31" firstref="ref92"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl30" bibid="bib32" firstref="ref94"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl31" bibid="bib30" firstref="ref97"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl32" bibid="bib28" firstref="ref100"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl33" bibid="bib29" firstref="ref102"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl34" bibid="bib13" firstref="ref106"></nolink> <nolink nlid="nl35" bibid="bib27" firstref="ref107"></nolink> |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Republic of Ireland-Born Football Migrants and University Access, 1945-2010 – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Curran%2C+Conor%22">Curran, Conor</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Irish+Educational+Studies%22"><i>Irish Educational Studies</i></searchLink>. 2020 39(1):65-82. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 18 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2020 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Athletes%22">Athletes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Team+Sports%22">Team Sports</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immigrants%22">Immigrants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+History%22">Educational History</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Careers%22">Careers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scholarships%22">Scholarships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Associations%22">Professional Associations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Government+Role%22">Government Role</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ireland%22">Ireland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink> – Name: DOI Label: DOI Group: ID Data: 10.1080/03323315.2019.1606728 – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 0332-3315 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This article assesses the rates of third-level degree obtainment amongst Republic of Ireland-born football migrants who played league football in England in the period from 1945 until 2010. It will illustrate that despite a general widening of access and participation at university level in the Republic of Ireland in the late twentieth century, the number of these footballers who successfully completed degree courses remained small. It will show that some players have taken up third-level education independently and their access routes will be discussed along with influences on their post-playing career decisions. Despite improvements in educational access for young players at British clubs, and the development of university scholarships for aspiring players in Ireland, the Irish government has been slow to provide assistance for football migrants in terms of player and educational welfare. This article traces the evolution of governmental attitudes towards the provision of welfare and education for talented footballers, and illustrates that it was not until the early twenty-first century that these matters began to gain significant attention in the Dáil. However, there is currently no formal structure in place in Ireland to help them prepare for and come to terms with a post-professional career. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2020 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1247395 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/03323315.2019.1606728 Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 65 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: Athletes Type: general – SubjectFull: Team Sports Type: general – SubjectFull: Immigrants Type: general – SubjectFull: Access to Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational History Type: general – SubjectFull: Careers Type: general – SubjectFull: Secondary Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Scholarships Type: general – SubjectFull: Professional Associations Type: general – SubjectFull: Government Role Type: general – SubjectFull: Ireland Type: general – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Republic of Ireland-Born Football Migrants and University Access, 1945-2010 Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Curran, Conor IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2020 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0332-3315 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 39 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Irish Educational Studies Type: main |
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