Wexford FC and Presentation Wexford Launch new TY Football Programme

Wexford FC and Presentation Secondary School, Wexford, are delighted to launch a first of its kind collaboration on a Transition Year (TY) Programme for girls, with the support of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Wexford County Council…

Commencing in August 2024, the TY Football Programme will offer a balance between player development, academic attainment and a holistic school based experience, in line with the recently announced FAI Football Pathways Plan. The club will also deliver a TY course for boys, based at Ferrycarrig Park, with the support of a number of boys’ schools across the region.

Speaking to Wexford Weekly at its launch, Wexford FC CEO Tony Doyle has outlined his excitement at the potential of this course, with a number of collaborating partners involved.

“As CEO of Wexford FC, I’m proud to partner with Presentation Secondary School, Wexford and the FAI to launch the Transition Year Football programme for girls in the region, as well as announcing our privately run boys course. This collaboration symbolises our dedication to community engagement and youth development. By integrating academia with football, we aim to empower students with valuable skills both on and off the pitch. I’d like to thank the FAI, Wexford County Council and the other supporting bodies for their work in getting to this point. Together, we can shape a brighter future for our students and our community.”

Billy Ryan, Principal of Presentation Wexford outlined how the balance between sport and academia was what attracted him and his school to this course.

“We have a long tradition of sporting excellence and a wide range of extracurricular activities, provided by a very dedicated team. As Principal, I welcome the very strong teaching and learning element in this new programme, we look forward to working with the students during this course. I have no doubt that this programme will grow from strength to strength.”

Scott Gaynor, Deputy Principal and course link at Presentation Wexford, added his thoughts on the initiative:

“We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Wexford FC and the FAI to introduce a Transition Year Football programme. This initiative embodies our school’s holistic commitment to nurturing academic excellence, participation in sport and well-being. As part of the new FAI Pathways Plan, we’re excited to provide our students with a balanced opportunity to thrive both on the field and in the classroom, fostering a culture of growth, resilience, and teamwork. It’s an exciting time to be involved in girl’s and women’s football in this country. As the first home of education in Wexford Town, we’re proud to be the home of this first of its kind collaboration.”

The course will see students engage with the Presentation’s existing TY Programme with allocated player development contact time, as well as learning and work experience in the business of football and related fields. These areas will include nutrition, injury prevention and rehabilitation, menstruation in sport, football finance and journalism, among others.