Here are this month’s EA Sports LOI Academy Athlone Town AFC Players of the Month!
Men’s U14’s – Mateusz Dziedzic
A hard hitting no nonsense fullback , showing exceptional technical abilities and energy on both sides of the game, Mateusz seamlessly integrates into the national league scene. His development in this brief period has elevated him as a standout player worth keeping an eye on.
Men’s U17’s – Will Smith
Will has been selected due to his all round performances as the MU17’S team captain adding to his goals and assists for the team during the month of April.
Women’s U17’s – Maeve Wollmer
The WU17’s played 3 games, winning all 3, and. scored 10 goals, only conceding 2 during the month of April.
Congratulations to Ellen Gorman, who made her first LOI starting debut for the club, keeping a cleansheet in the process.
Congratulations to Emma Mooney, Ruby Phelan, Muireann Daly, Roisin Bradley, Holly Murphy, and Alison Nugent all scoring during the month.
The Player Of The Month goes to Maeve Wollmer.
Maeve scored 3 goals and 2 assists during the month.
Maeve also scored an outrageous goal for the Irish Under 16s in their game against Denmark. The goal is up for contentio for Goal of the Year. Not content with scoring her first international goal in that game, Maeve stepped up and scored the winning penalty in the penalty shootout.
Women’s U19’s – Hazel Donegan
The WU19’s played 3 games, winning 2 of them and scored 12 goals, and only conceding 2.
Congratulations to Julia on keeping another 2 clean-sheets this month, bringing her total to 6 for the year.
Special mention to Muireann Daly and Danielle O’Neill on their outstanding performance during the month.
Congratulations to Lucy FitzGerald, Keelin Fitzgerald, and Aoife Murphy – O’Connor also scoring during the month.
We also welcome back Olivia Killackey to the club.
The WU19s POTM goes to Hazel Donegan. What a month it was for Hazel, not only in the WU19s league but also on the international stage.
Hazel scored in all 3 U19 games, scoring 9 goals in total, including 6 goals in one game.
Not content with dominating in the U19s league Hazel made her senior debut for the club in the All-Ireland Cup against Sligo Rovers.
Hazel wasn’t finished there, and to top off her month, Hazel scored on her Ireland Under 19s debut in their win over Croatia in the European qualification campaign.
Men’s U20’s – Brendan Lauder
It was very tough for the management to pick someone out as team performances have been very good, could have been any of 4 or 5 different players.
Brendan, who plays centre back, has great anticipation and is good on the ball. He is just 19 years old and is from North Carolina.
Athlone Town AFC are delighted to announce that we will be holding trials shortly for players born in 2011 for the upcoming league of Ireland Season Please fill in the form and we will be in touch with you shortly
Anthony Fay’s EA Sports LOI Academy Women U17’s team have had an incredible start to their season, winning their first seven games.
This fantastic run adds to the three wins The Town had at the end of last season meaning they have now had ten consecutive wins between both seasons.
Within the last two seasons, Athlone have only suffered three defeats and finished second in the league just three points behind Shelbourne, who beat Athlone in the Cup Final.
The Black and Blue currently sit top of Group B with twenty five goals scored in those seven games.
All LOI Academy league tables can be found on FAI Connect.
Maeve Wollmer, who scored three goals and assisted two back in April, received a call-up to the Ireland Women’s U16 team and scored an unbelievable goal in a friendly against Denmark, where she also scored the winning goal in the peanlty shootout.
Here are The Town’s goalscorers from the first seven games:
Maeve Wollmer (5)
Muireann Daly (4)
Lucy Fitzgerald (4)
Holly Murphy (4)
Emma Mooney (2)
Roisin Bradley (2)
Alison Nugent (1)
Ruby Phelan (1)
Niamh Niland (1)
Danielle O’Neill (1)
You can track all of the team’s fixtures and results here.
The Republic of Ireland squad were welcomed home at Dublin Airport last night after qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championships!
Athlone Town players Katie Keane, Hazel Donegan, Aoife Murphy-O’Connor and Mary Philips all featured over the Girls in Green three game campaign.
Dave Connell’s side started their UEFA European Championship qualifying group with a 4-1 victory over Iceland last Thursday. They followed that up with 1-0 win over Austria on Saturday. Those victories secured qualification for the finals in Lithuania.
All four girls have already lined out for Ciaran Kilduff’s senior women’s side so far this season and it was great to see them all get capped for their country.
Katie Keane started the first two games, and got herself a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Austria.
Katie Keane pictured in team photo before Ireland’s 4-1 win over Iceland.
In the third and final qualifying game, Athlone native Hazel Donegan got her first cap at under-19 level against Croatia. It was fantastic to see her grab a goal and an assist on her debut. Aoife Murphy O’Connor and Mary Philips also started in the 3-0 win.
Aoife Murphy-O’Connor (back left), Mary Philips and Hazel Donegan (both back row second and third from right)
The future is bright for this talented group of players. Katie, Aoife, Mary, Hazel and the rest of the Ireland squad now have a EUROs in Lithuania to look forward to this summer!
Here are this month’s EA Sports LOI Academy Athlone Town AFC Players of the Month!
Men’s U14 – Kevin Kilduff
Kevin Kilduff is a rising star in the Athlone Town AFC ranks. His has exceptional technical skills and natural flair. Kevin’s step into the national league with Athlone Town AFC was a seamless transition for a player who, despite his youth, radiates maturity and composure on and off the field.
Men’s U15 – Rhuon Sousa
Rhuon has had a great start to his MU15 campaign, finding the back of the net 3 times in the first 5 games. It is evident that the 14-year-old has settled in to his new surroundings very well having only joined the club in January. Sousa will be hoping to continue his goalscoring form into the rest of the campaign and help his side kick on after their first win of the season against Bray Wanderers before the Easter break.
Men’s U17 – Isaac Ryan
Isaac performed at a consistently high level in the opening five games of the season. The left-back has played a key role in his sides games so far and will be looking to continue the high standards that he’s set himself.
There were several outstanding performances during the month of March with the Women’s u17 team. From Holly Murphy scoring her first hat-trick for the club, Alison Nugent’s battling performances in midfield, to Maeve Wollmer flying down the left wing chipping in with a goal and 3 assists. The one performance that stood out about all was from 14 year old Emma Mooney. Emma started in all 3 games and has been a tower of strength in midfield. Emma showed all her qualities while dominating the centre of the pitch for someone beyond her years.
With the Women’s U19 team, there were numerous outstanding performances during the month of March. With the team winning 4 for 4 games, goalkeeper Julia Gawalkiewicz keeping 4 clean sheets, Hazel Donegan scoring 6 goals in 3 games, to Ciara O’Neill and Michelle Muddiman forming a formidable partnership in the centre of defence. The standout performance for the team was from team captain Lucy FitzGerald. Lucy put in Player of the Match performance in every game. Dominating midfield, scoring 3 goals.
Men’s U20 – Ciaran Nolan
Ciaran has started the season well and has played well in all games so far. Nolan, who plays at centre-back reads the game well and is confident on the ball. The 18-year-old from Mountbellew can also play at centre-midfield when needed and is very good at distrubuting the ball to his teammates from wherever he is on the pitch.
Anthony Fay’s side have had the best start possible to their EA Sports WU19 campaign.
The Town have played four games, won four, scored ten goals and conceded none. The wins so far have come against Galway United, DLR Waves, Shamrock Rovers (who won were last year’s unbeaten league winners) and Sligo Rovers. They currently sit top of their group after four games and will be hoping to carry their excellent form into their remaining games.
All LOI Academy league tables can be found on FAI Connect.
Their results haven’t gone unnoticed as Mary Philips and Hazel Donegan both received call-ups recently to the Ireland Women’s Under-19 squad for their upcoming UEFA Round 2 Euro Qualifiers against Iceland, Austria and Croatia next month.
Mary was named LOI Academy Women’s U17 Player of the Year last season and has been involved in the senior setup over the last year.
Hazel scored more than 40 goals last season between the LOI Academy WU17 and WU19 teams as well as 2 goals for the Senior Women’s side in the Women’s Premier Division during the 2023 campaign.
Aoife Murphy-O’Connor and Isabel Ryan have also had call-ups to the National squad in recent times, as well as Lucy Fitzgerald who made her Ireland Women’s Under-17 debut against South Korea earlier this year.
The team earn a well earned break after the opening rounds of games. They will play Bray Wanderers at home on Sunday, April 14th when they return to action.
Here are The Town’s goalscorers from the first four games:
Hazel Donegan (6)
Roisin Molloy (2)
Aoife Murphy-O’Connor (1)
Michelle Muddiman (1)
Julia Gawalkiewicz was the keeper between the sticks for those first four games and she is yet to concede a goal in this current campaign.
You can track all of the team’s fixtures and results here.
Athlone Town AFC is proud to announce the expansion of its Youth Academy, introducing a comprehensive training and competition program for young football enthusiasts aged 6 to 14 years, set to commence in the coming weeks.
The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy is a ground-breaking initiative designed to nurture the future stars of the beautiful game, providing a platform for young talents to develop their skills, technique, and tactical prowess while fostering a deep passion for football.
The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy comprises two distinct programs tailored to the specific needs and age groups of young players:
The Junior Academy – Catering to players aged 6 to 10, this program lays the foundation for budding football stars, instilling essential skills and techniques from an early age.
The Pre-Academy – Aimed at players aged 11 to 14, this program offers a more advanced training curriculum to refine their abilities and prepare them for the challenges of competitive football.
Aspiring players can choose between full-time and part-time options to accommodate their schedules and ambitions:
Full-time – The Club Teams program, spanning 10 months, immerses players in a dedicated football environment, providing extensive training and development opportunities.
Part-time – The Clinics and Camps program, running for 1 month, offers players the flexibility to enhance their skills during specific periods of the year.
The Athlone Town AFC Training Academy distinguishes itself with a comprehensive set of features:
Technical Training: A focus on skill, creativity, and technique enhancement.
Tactical Training: Spatial awareness and game intelligence development.
Speed, Strength, and Agility Training: Targeting quickness, reaction abilities, and injury prevention.
Professional Coaching: Expert coaches and mentors dedicated to guiding player development.
Holistic Approach: Emphasis on life skills such as respect, discipline, teamwork, commitment, and hard work.
Competitive Opportunities: Participation in regional leagues, as well as national and international tournaments.
Limited Class Sizes: To ensure personalized attention and coaching excellence, each class accommodates a maximum of 30 players.
The Athlone Town Stadium Complex, situated in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, will serve as the vibrant hub for this innovative academy, providing world-class facilities and a conducive learning environment.
To signify your interest in embarking on a path towards footballing excellence, click here. If you have any queries, please contact us at admin@athlonetownafc.ie
Powered by Valeo Futbol, the Athlone Town AFC Training Academy represents a significant milestone in the development of young football talent in the Midlands and beyond. We look forward to nurturing the next generation of football stars and shaping a brighter future for the beautiful game.
The Athlone Town AFC – Elite Player Development (EPD) programs are the most comprehensive training sessions in football.
They are designed for the ambitious/passionate player whose goals are to, have the most fun, learn, and play the game at the highest level. During multiple weeks/months, students benefit from our holistic, progressive, and full-time Academy training. The ATAFC Junior Academy aims to build well-rounded players utilizing a technical, tactical, physical, and mental training model approach.
The Athlone Town Junior Academy programs features:
Technical training to improve players’ creativity and technique
Small group Tactical training to improve players’ spatial and game intelligence
Age appropriate Speed, Strength, and Agility training to increase quickness, reaction abilities, and injury prevention
Professional coaches to guide players development
Very low coach : player ratio to provide focused attention on each player’s development
CLUB TEAM PROGRAM
PRE ACADEMY CLUB TEAM PROGRAM
Ages U9-U14
The Athlone Town Pre-Academy Club Team is an elite training and competition development program designed specifically for ambitious youth players that aspire to play at the highest level. The Pre-Academy Club Team is an intense preparation program that mirrors all aspects of League of Ireland (LOI) Academy teams, the coaches, the training, competition, etc.
Its focus is purely on individual player development and getting them ready for excellence in top flight youth football. As full-time club members, players will train 1 or 2 times per week, compete in local/ regional league games on the weekend and attend several national and international tournaments over the course of the season.
Highlights
Focus on individual player development (skill, technique, game intelligence, etc.)
Professional coaches (Local and International)
Athlone Town AFC Senior Professional Players as coaches and mentors
Progressive weekly training sessions
Participation in regional/national leagues
Participation in national and international tournaments
Teams/Age Groups
Boys & Girls
U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14 Reserves
Team Tryouts
Saturday, January 12th, 2024
Athlone Town Stadium, Lissywollen, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 P7D7
REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS HERE
Team Training Days and Times
Age Group
Time
Days
TRAINING
U9 & U10
5pm – 6pm
Mondays + Wednesdays
U11 & U12
5pm – 6pm
Mondays + Wednesdays
U13 & U14
5pm – 6.15pm
Tuesdays + Thursdays
LEAGUE GAMES
EDP (U9 & U10)
9am – 10am
Sundays
EDP (U11 & U12)
10am – 11.30am
Sundays
EDP (U10 & U14)
11:30am – 1pm
Sundays
Cost
Details
Cost (Per Week)
1 Training Session (Per Week)
€20
1 Training + 1 Game (Per Week)
€25
2 Training Sessions (Only)
€25
2 Training Sessions + 1 Game
€30
1 Game (Per Week)
€20
REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS HERE
SKILL CLINICS
Minions
Ages 4-7
Fun! Fun! and even more Fun! is the foundation of this program. The Minions Program is designed to challenge and improve player’s skills and physical abilities. Each week’s activities are varied and include lots of fun games created explicitly for young players. They will learn all the basic skills: dribbling, ball control, passing and receiving in an unstructured way. Each activity has been designed to develop coordination, physical skills, and social interaction.
REGISTER HERE
Mini-Champions
Ages 7-10
The Jr. Academy Mini Champions Program is an advanced, moderately intensive, yet fun program designed specifically to improve a player’s individual skill, technique, and tactical awareness while fostering a love of the game.
The focus of each athlete is to improve his or her skill, and creativity and become more confident and comfortable with the ball. Players train once or twice per week and in each training session, athletes are guided through fun and challenging workouts that are combined with homework to maximize improvement and ultimately help them become more creative, efficient, and effective players.
REGISTER HERE
Mini Champions – Advanced
Ages 8-10
The Advanced Academy builds on the Mini-Champions program with a more intense focus on developing technique skills and tactical intelligence. This program meets twice per week with one session devoted almost exclusively to skill development and technical training and the other, focused on game, playing and putting into practice what was learned during the mid-week training session.
An integral aspect of the Advanced Academy is a weekly small-sided tournament consisting of older players. The game is much faster and it is designed to get younger players to play quicker and develop some confidence on the ball while playing against/with bigger faster and stronger players
REGISTER HERE
BEAST
Ages 10-14
Designed for Academy players who want the experience of being in a club environment and training with club players, the BEAST training program is an elite-level training package that encompasses focused speed, agility, strength training and advanced technical and tactical concepts.Over the course of the season, Academy players participate in club training and are fully immersed in the environment.
The BEASTtraining program is built on improving Strength (mental and physical) and Speed (technical, tactical, mental and physical speed). All sessions are designed to make players stronger, faster, more explosive while aggressively focused on improving each player’s skill, technique and tactical understanding.
REGISTER HERE
Cost
Details
Cost (Per Week)
1 Training Session (Per Week)
€20
1 Training + 1 Game (Per Week)
€30
2 Training Sessions (Only)
€30
2 Training Sessions + 1 Game
€40
1 Game (Per Week)
€20
Training Days and Times
Age Group
Time
Days
TRAINING
Minions (5-7yrs)
5pm – 6pm
Mondays + Wednesdays
Mini-Champs (7-10yrs)
5pm – 6pm
Mondays + Wednesdays
BEAST (10-12yrs)
5pm – 6.15pm
Tuesdays + Thursdays
BEAST (12-14 yrs)
5pm – 6.15pm
Tuesdays + Thursdays
LEAGUE GAMES
ATAFC Minion League (5-7yrs)
9am – 10am
Saturdays
ATAFC Mini Champions League(7-10yrs)
10am – 11.30pm
Saturdays
ATAFC Champions League (10-14yrs)
11.30am – 1pm
Saturdays
Start Date
February 2024
Location
Athlone Town Stadium, Lissywollen, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 P7D7
Congratulations to Athlone Town AFC’s u17 Women’s player Mary Philips who was named the League of Ireland’s Women’s under 17 Player of the Year. Here she is collecting her award at last month’s highest ever attended FAI Cup men’s final at the Aviva Stadium.
Mary had a great year with the u17 women’s team and played a key role in helping The Town reach the WU17 League of Ireland Cup Final. The Portlaoise native also made her senior debut this year in a 2-1 win over Wexford Youths at Athlone Town Stadium on November 4th, and was on the bench for The Town’s FAI Women’s Cup Final win over Shelbourne.
Philips also represented Ireland this year at u19 level, earning herself 3 caps for her country.
