Summer soccer nationwide looming after tight FAI member ballot

FAI Director of Football Marc Canham and FAI Grassroots Director Ger McDermott at the FAI Football Pathways Plan that will see calendar football introduced. 

Summer soccer will be a feature from top to bottom of the Irish game by 2028 after the FAI General Assembly ratified a motion to change the season format by 57%.

Voting was always going to be tight on such a seismic sea change and the hybrid meeting at a Blanchardstown hotel and online attracted all but five of their 138-member assembly.

Only one contributor spoke before the ballot was taken – staunch opponent Noel Jordan from the Carlow League – and the vote returned 74-56 in favour of an aligned calendar season throughout the game. That equates to 57%, a four swing. Two delegates abstained.

That has translated into their phased tweak, starting with age levels between 5-12s initially, followed by 13-16s in 2027, with youth and adult completing the set from 2028.

The Football Pathways Plan (FPP), launched by Chief Football Officer Marc Canham in February, placed the move by grassroots to synchronise with the League of Ireland at the core of 11 action items.

Initially, 2026 was declared as the launch date but feedback cooled the pace, leading to a staggered approach.

That has translated into their phased tweak, starting with age levels between 5-12s initially, followed by 13-16s in 2027, with youth and adult completing the set from 2028.

Marc Canham was quick out of the traps to express his delight. The FAI press release unfurled within minutes stated: “Tonight’s vote is a green light for progress but the hard work starts here for all of us.

“We acknowledge all the views expressed, both at the meeting tonight and at our engagements all across the country in recent times, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders over the next four years to bring the aligned football calendar into effect by 2028 for the benefit of all who participate in Irish football and most importantly for current and future generations of players at all levels.

“Tonight’s vote is a vote for change and a vote for progress and a result Irish football can be proud of across our game.” Despite the FAI board featuring a number of representatives from affiliates against the change, in October they declared their unequivocal backing for the move.

That led to internal friction recently among the Leinster provincial body, where a league criticised their delegate for adopting an alternative view around the boardroom table. The affiliate vowed to vote on bloc against the motion.

Down south, the Munster Senior League informed their clubs of their support despite there being no clear decision within a meeting of members. Some clubs were aghast at this stance being derived as the interpretation from the summit.

A poll of clubs taken by Cork’s schoolboys clubs extracted a result of 34 against versus 18 in favour. Only one was undecided.

President Paul Cooke also acknowledged the divergence of views in welcoming the breakthrough his association has been lobbying clubs to endorse for the past eight months.

He said: “This is a really significant day for Irish football as we come together to improve the game for every player, coach, volunteer, supporter and affiliate. The FAI Board and staff will now take time to digest tonight’s meeting and the positive result.

“We welcome this decision and look forward to activating the phased implementation of the aligned football calendar. We take on board and respect all the views expressed both for and against the resolution.” It should be noted that the FAI previously imposed this summer concept as a policy across underage leagues in the John Delaney era but reverted to the traditional season in 2019 due to club demand.