FAI launches Club Mark One Star Award

The FAI are today delighted to announce the next step in Club Development, with the launch of the FAI Club Mark One Star Award.

Set up in early 2018, the FAI Club Mark has seen over 40 clubs earn the Entry Level award with almost an additional 300 clubs in the process of reaching the standard.

Six pilot clubs who previously earned the Entry Level award, moved on to the One Star Level, and are now seen as FAI Development Centres.

The first six grassroots clubs to earn the FAI Club Mark One Star Award are (in alphabetical order):

• Callan United AFC (Kilkenny)
• Colemanstown United FC (Galway)
• Midleton FC (Cork)
• Mulroy Soccer Academy (Donegal)
• Newlands/Castle Park FC (Dublin)
• Park Rangers AFC (Waterford)

These six clubs have demonstrated that they have:

• A high standard of Coach Education 
• Good coaching structures
• A player development and coaching pathway 
• Achieved the standards set by our Player Development Working Group 
• Have an ongoing relationship with a FAI Coaching Mentor
• Have high standards of governance, management, and administration 

All clubs who will complete the One Star Award, will need to demonstrate these six key points.

“We need to provide a framework to clubs to help them, to help themselves become stronger. The stronger they become, the stronger the overall game is”, FAI Head of Grassroots Ger McDermott told FAI.ie.

“A lot of the focus is on off-the-field activity – good structures and good governance, and ensuring they are run properly.”

“The FAI Club Mark is the foundation of a growing number of resources being created to support the growth and development of grassroots clubs”, FAI Club Support Officer Vincent Foley added.

“The One Star Player Development Centre is the second step on the Club Mark journey. I would like thank the pilot clubs for engaging in the pilot process to design this level, their continued engagement, patience and hard work is greatly appreciated.”

Clubs interested in registering for the One Star Award can click here. For more information, e-mail club@fai.ie