England’s league difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity

England’s dalliance with restructuring of the league will have huge implications for the Irish game.

Never underestimate the expertise of England’s football authorities when it comes to horses and stable doors.

After their World Cup success against the Germans, it took the Football Association the best part of 20 years to open a centre of excellence in 1984. When they closed Lilleshall in 1999, the plans were to have a national football centre in four years, and St George’s Park was duly declared open — in October 2012.