Tom Parsons urges GAA and Government to support players who turn down AFL contracts

The GPA chief executive would like to see all inter-county teams provided with money for a holiday. He also underlined the financial difficulties students continue to face at inter-county level. 

Tom Parsons: “I think every team should be given a few bob at the end of the year to go on a team holiday." Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

GPA chief executive Tom Parsons believes the GAA and Government should be doing more to reward inter-county Gaelic footballers who turn down AFL contracts.

Speaking on Ian O’Connell’s Stand Out programme on Radio Kerry, Parsons said those rejecting professional careers to pursue inter-county careers should be acknowledged.

“That’s where the GAA and the Government need to say, ‘Right, we have athletes here who could potentially go off and be professional athletes and they’ve opted not to do that. They’re opting to give their whole selves to Gaelic games. How can we better support them?’

“Whether that’s a scholarship or help them with their education, whether that’s making sure they’re not out of pocket with all the travelling, food and nutrition. There’s a role on the Government and there’s a role on the GAA to say, ‘These athletes aren’t paid but we need to look after them.’” 

Parsons would like to see all inter-county teams provided with money for a holiday. 

“I think every team should be given a few bob at the end of the year to go on a team holiday.

“These are small things that I’ve been having conversations with the powers that be in Government in terms of funding to inter-county and the GAA. It’s important we look after them to the best of our ability.” 

Parsons underlined the financial difficulties students continue to face at inter-county level. 

“The journey for the majority of players is trying to make the squad, make the 26, being dropped, getting an ACL injury, grappling with how do I get something from the injury fund.

“Players who are students realise ‘I can’t have a part-time job in the bar at the weekend’. Where do I get my few bob to get the rent? All these practical things that you don’t see on All-Ireland final day. It just looks like everybody is enjoying their football and ‘isn’t it a great privilege to represent your county?’ Of course it is but the reality is we have 30% of those lads will be students who haven’t a penny to their name, can’t afford to buy the chicken fillets.

“Jack O’Connor will be telling them, ‘No way will you be working up in the bar in Killarney until 1am in the morning.’ There are a lot of challenges that players face and I’m passionate about pushing the GAA every year to do more and represent the women more.”