Legend Tel is our man in England

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 21, 2009 | by CIARAN O RAGHALLAIGH

FOOTBALL is a game of two haves - the haves and the have-nots.

And no time shows this disparity more than the summer break - when the elite have dinner WITH Paris, while the others can't afford a day trip TO Paris.

For every Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, there are young players slowly absorbing the news that they have no future with their clubs.

For many 18-year-olds thrown on the scrapheap after two years of hope, this summer means lonesome roadrunning, updating CVs and living with Mam and Dad.

And that is what faces many young Irish players who aren't sure what they'll be doing when the new season kicks off.

After moving abroad at 16 to academies up and down Britain, their dreams are coming to an end - or are they? After seeing the stream of players being lost to the game at such a young age, the FAI created the governmentfunded role of Players' Welfare Officer in the UK.

Stoke City and Ireland legend Terry Conroy was the man selected from 85 applicants to do the job last November, and he's now experiencing his first summer in the job.

"It's no substitute for playing but it's a nice replacement - I'm going to clubs I've not been at in years," said Conroy.

"My function is to look after all Irish players - past, present and future - but the main concern of the FAI is youngsters leaving Ireland and disappearing off the radar at 18 when they've been released by clubs."

Those good enough will find their own way; others struggle.

Clubs do help the players they plan to release by making their details available to lowerleague clubs. The exit trials have become a big recruitment day out for small clubs looking at the soon-to-be- released players - but it's not always the answer.

"Clubs think there's an assembly line of young players so to them it's just a numbers game," said Conroy.

"So many are lost to the game because they are not given time to show what they have.

"Part of my role is to be an extension of the clubs' work to get them another job. I can spend a bit more time on an individual than they can.

"I'd say 90 per cent of the Irish players over here are aware of me now.

"I've already had a couple of clubs who've said they'll take players on trial."

With an average of close to 50 Irish kids going over every year to British clubs, Conroy is likely to be busy for years to come. But already it's clear an impact is being made.

One Irish player, who spent seven injury-hit years as a pro, has been directed by Conroy into a PFA-backed re-training programme which aims to fasttrack him to a trade job. It may not be what he dreamed of, but it's a success of sorts.

"That's the rewarding side of the role," said Conroy.

"For every success you have someone who just didn't have the right bounce of the ball, so to help them is great."