There will be a trial night on Tuesday 12th August at the Abbey for our Under 13 and Under 14 boys teams ( Born 2001 and 2002). The trial is from 6.30pm to 8pm.

If you require any more info please contact our Youth Academy Manager Conlon Morrison on 07919592943.

By Conlon Morrison, NCAFC Youth Academy Manager

Newry City Academy held our first presentation night on Thursday 26th June. Before the presentations our U12 team played a challenge match against our U13 team. All the parents attended and watched. The match was followed by photos of the players with their parents and coaches. Following this the presentation of the awards took place in the lounge which again was attended by all of the parents.

Under 12 awards
Player of the year: Rio McConnell
Players’ player of the year: Jason Rush
Annalong player of the tournament: Jack Jennings

Under 13 awards
Player of the year went to 2 players: Tiernan Murphy and Sean McConville
Players’ player of the year: Aiden Ovesen
NI Elite Panel representative trophy: Tiernan Murphy was awarded a special trophy for being selected for the NI Elite Panel
ESF player of the Ayr tournament in Scotland went to Mathew McGinn who was unbeatable at right back throughout the three day tournament.

Academy player of the year went to Tiernan Reilly who was brilliant all year and does it all with a smile on his face. The model academy player.

Thanks to John Moffett and Lee Kirrane our managing coaches who presented the trophies and made it all possible.

As Academy Manager i would like to thank Sean Gaffney our kitman, Willie Young for keeping our pitches perfect, Gary Wilson for finding willing sponsors, Michael Keenan our child protection officer and our committee who have fully supported our academy project.

I would also like to thank all of our coaches, volunteers and parents who are all part of this project that provides over 300 children with the opportunity to play soccer on a regular and ongoing basis.

Next season we have teams competing at all age groups and coaching for these teams starts after the July fortnight holidays.

By Conlon Morrison, NCAFC Youth Academy Manager

On Friday past 4th April the NCAFC U13 team participated in the ESF Soccer Tournament in Ayr, Scotland. We played 6 matches in total – 4 matches on Saturday and 2 matches on Sunday, which was followed by a presentation where all players were presented with a trophy by former Celtic and Bayern Munich striker Alan McInally.

We stayed in Craig Tara Haven in Ayr. Our transport was provided by our U13 Sponsor Matthews Coach Hire who provided an excellent service, our Coach Driver was Colm Murphy who is also our U13 assistant Coach, photography was completed by Adrian Poucher, food & entertainment was managed by Bernard Connolly, the health and safety officer was Conlon Morrison assisted in every way by John Treanor and Cathal McConville. We had an entire family with us – Paul and Josephine Matthews and their daughter Eimear, who was delighted to be presented with a trophy as well.

The U13 players that took part in the tournament were as follows:

Jason Rush
Connor Mathews
Tiernan Murphy
James Poucher
Matthew Treanor
Matthew McGinn
Shea Morgan
Nathan Crudden
Joseph Connolly
Sean McConville
Joseph Connolly
Tiernan O Reilly
Tyler Dodds
Tiernan Russell

We played the following teams in the tournament:

Gleniffer Thistle FC
Blackburn Utd
Portadown Youth
Northside Youths
Giffnock SC
Harmony Row

Some of the games we won, some we drew and some we lost. Everyone really enjoyed the trip and we look forward to next year when we will be inviting everyone involved in the Newry City AFC Soccer Academy to make it the biggest Soccer trip for youth from the Newry area in years.

Some photos from the trip can be viewed below. Click thumbnails to view larger image.