Portadown Football Club is delighted to announce Andy Foley as our first ever full time Academy Manager.

The Wexford native, who was part of his hometown club’s backroom team when they lifted the League of Ireland First Division Title in 2015, is a UEFA A Licence holder and began his coaching career with Bohemians Academy before spending 7 years in the Arabian Gulf League, UAE and Abu Dhabi in a number of roles including First Team Coach, Analyst, Head of Operations and Head of Football Academy at several clubs including Arsenal FC (Dubai), R.E.F.A Abu Dhabi, Al Jazira F.C, AD Elite Academy, Zayed Sports City and La Liga Academy. Formerly the 44 year old was with Finn Harps working under the late Ollie Horgan before heading up their U17 squad for the 2023 National League.

Andy will oversee our academy, from U8s all the way up to U20s and along with the directors and first team manager, the academy manager role serves as an additional pillar in helping bridge the gap between the academy and the first team. Our Phase Leads and staff from GDC to NIFL will be supported by Andy so our players are in the best position possible to transition into the first team effectively.

With the appointment of Andy we feel this ensures the club’s future talent is being nurtured in the best way possible – not just to win at youth level, but to feed into the first team and to do so in a way that aligns with the clubs values and playing philosophy.

On his appointment, Andy commented

I am delighted and privileged to be appointed Academy Manger at Portadown FC. From the initial meetings with the youth committee and board members they were emphatic that they very much see young homegrown players as being a key part of the future of the club. Creating a competitive environment where we as a staff at the academy can develop players that will reflect the values of Portadown FC and resonate with the supporters is something that I’m excited to develop.

I am hugely encouraged that the first team manager is also unwavering in his commitment to the development and inclusion of academy prospects into the first team. We currently have two academy players actively training with the first team with more to follow but it is vital that we can build out our NIFL Phase, led superbly by Chris Wright, and incorporate S&C, Performance Analysis and nutrition to give our players the best foundation possible to take their opportunities with the first team when they arise.

The academy staff have done an excellent job to this point of providing a good program for the players and moving forward I’ll be supporting and developing the structures that are already in place. With the support of the board and the first team manager we look forward to creating a pathway at Portadown FC where young players know that they will be fully supported in their development and given playing opportunities at a NIFL Premiership club of the highest stature.

I look forward to meeting the remaining staff, players and parents and the whole academy in the coming weeks and assure the supporters who come to our NIFL U16, U18 and U20 fixtures that their support is not only noticed and valued, but essential for the development of our players by creating an atmosphere that will have them ready for Shamrock Park when the day comes!