Inside Northern Ireland's football conveyor belt
Northern Ireland's football manager Michael O'Neill is prioritizing youth development through the IFA JD National Academy. The program aims to prepare young players for professional careers in England and Scotland while maintaining their academic education.
Why it matters
The integration of sports training with formal education is a growing model for developing professional athletes in smaller footballing nations.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has made no bones about his desire to give youth a chance.
Included in the squad this international window are teenagers Ceadach O'Neill, Tom Atcheson, Braiden Graham and Kieran Morrison , while 21-year-old Patrick Kelly and 22-year-old Terry Devlin have begun to stake their claim for regular inclusion.
A golden generation, or is this simply Northern Ireland's football factory - the IFA JD National Academy - beginning to bear fruit?
As Northern Ireland fans began to digest Monday's 0-0 draw at home to Hungary, following a 1-0 win in Georgia on Friday which has ensured a positive start to their Nations League campaign, O'Neill visited Campbell College which is home to the academy where teenage hopefuls seek to develop into potential stars at club and international level.
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