BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, October 03, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Former Northern Ireland player Steve Lomas stepped onboard Norfolkline's Lagan Viking Vessel to help launch the second year of the Norfolkline IFA Excellence Centres.
Lomas, a midfielder, first made his name with Manchester City in the 1990s but then moved to West Ham United, where he made 227 competitive appearances and became club captain. On 31 August 2005, he was released on a free transfer and joined Queens Park Rangers. He has earned 46 caps for the Northern Ireland national team, scoring three goals.
Lomas was delighted to open proceedings at the launch, giving him the chance to share his experiences in youth football and the role of quality coaching in nurturing young football talent.
The Norfolkline Excellence Centres help to nurture and develop the best of the province's young players. In the 2008/2009 season over 780 boys and girls from across Northern Ireland, aged between 11 and 15 attended the Norfolkline County Excellence Centres.
Not only does the Excellence Centres help and support these young people with their footballing skills but also with their conditioning, diet and general lifestyle. The Norfolkline IFA Excellence Centres are a vital strand of the Irish Football Associations Youth strategy.
Poul Woodall, Route Director of Norfolkline Irish Sea commented; "Norfolkline are committed to this partnership and the development of the Excellence Centres. We enjoyed a successful first year working with the IFA and are looking forward to continuing to strengthen this relationship. We are thankful to Steve Lomas for attending today's launch, his story and his commitment to coaching is an inspiration to the young players from the Excellence Centres."
Nigel Best, Performance Manager at the IFA Excellence Centres, added:
"The Irish Football Association had the foresight to establish the Excellence Programme to identify and develop the best young talent in Northern Ireland, both boys and girls. The result will be a larger talent pool of players from which to select our international teams, as well as an improving standard of play in our domestic leagues. We are grateful to Norfolkline for coming 'on board' with us and sponsoring the Excellence Programme."
Raymond Kennedy, President of the IFA, continued, "I would like to thank Norfolkline for their support of the Excellence Centres, and also congratulate all of the coaches who have helped make this programme the success that it is today. As the Excellence Centres continue to flourish they will continue to have a positive effect throughout all levels of football in Northern Ireland."
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