Jim Magilton has given a warm welcome to the news that a new football National Training Centre is being planned next to the Galgorm resort, just outside Ballymena.
The Cliftonville manager was Elite Performance Director with the Irish Football Association before stepping down in late 2020.
After seven and a half years with the Association, the former Northern Ireland international joined League of Ireland club Dundalk as Sporting Director.
In his Irish FA role Magilton masterminded the successful JD Club NI elite player development programme and the operation of the Irish FA JD Academy in collaboration with Uefa at Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus.
The new facility in Galgorm is expected to open in 2028 but it needs significant funding and planning permission.
Magilton, who was Michael O’Neill’s assistant at Shamrock Rovers, hopes the project can become a reality as its absence has been felt for decades.
“If you are putting on an Irish FA hat, both as a player and someone who has worked there, this has been a long time coming,” stated Magilton.
“We have all been crying out for that and as a player I was desperate to have a Training Centre when I was training at Mallusk under Billy (Bingham).
“When you look at the associations across Uefa, we are one of a very few without a training centre and now there is the possibility of one coming, which is a good thing.
“It needs to happen, and it should happen — it’s very important for international teams.”
Former Queens Park Rangers boss Magilton feels it would be unfair to jump to the conclusion that we have lost talented players over the years due to the lack of an elite venue.
“That’s a tough one to answer when you look at the players who have been developed through the clubs and through the ClubNI programme,” added the former Ipswich Town boss.
“Players are still migrating and those that play at the highest levels influence what happens with the international sides.
“I don’t know if facilities can influence that, good coaches do.
“Good coaches at the earliest ages, starting kids off with the right fundamentals change that.
“I wish it had come as I think it’s an identity thing and this is an important start.”
IFA Director of Women’s Football Angela Platt hailed the announcement as a “milestone moment” for Northern Irish football.
“I think it’s vital that everyone will be based under one roof,” she said. “We have integrated a lot of our programmes and Aaron (Hughes) and myself work very closely in the men’s and women’s set-up and the youth pathways as well.
“Being in one place can bring another dimension to it as the boys and girls can learn together under one roof.
“Also from a shared perspective and a knowledge perspective teams can learn from each other. From a women’s football perspective, we feel that we belong in that.
“Our women’s teams feel that they are a part of what our vision and our future is and that’s the exciting part of it.
“It’s not just about what happens on the pitch, it’s about every single staff member feeling they are a part of this journey as well.”
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