JOHN CAULFIELD BELIEVES that Cork City’s legacy of transferring players to clubs in Britain shows young players that there are opportunities for progression at the club.
The most recent export, Brian Lenihan, joined Hull City in August 2014 but there have been many other high-profile players to have plied their trade on Leeside prior to moving abroad, including current Ireland internationals Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and David Meyler.
Over the years City have also sent numerous players to the lower tiers of English football, with former Under-19 captain Alan Browne making his mark in League One with Preston North End this season, while others, such as Alan Bennett, Joe Gamble, Denis Behan, Dave Mooney and Roy O’Donovan have all forged respectable careers for themselves since departing Turner’s Cross.
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“Young players can see that they can progress through our system and get into the first team. They can see the opportunities are massive, with our history of selling players to England,” Caulfield said.
“Lenny (Brian Lenihan) was a brilliant example because he went straight to the Premier League, which is like winning the Lotto.
“But, being realistic, we have lots of fellows that are good enough for the Championship or League One, like Alan Browne at Preston, and could make real full-time careers for themselves in England.
“We’ve sent lots of lads over there, if you look at the likes of [Alan] Bennett, [Dave] Mooney, [Brian] Barry-Murphy and Roy O’Donovan.
“We want to be seen as a club that promotes our players to the top level and we wish them good luck after that.” Nevertheless, the Leesiders boss warned that, while opportunities existed, progression would inevitably rely on the hard work and application of individuals.
City won at UCD last night. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“There are massive opportunities [at Cork City] for young players coming through, but it’s massive hard work,” added Caulfield.
“If you walked into our U-19 dressing room, every one of them wants to play for Manchester United – which, I suppose, is the brilliance of youth – but there’s a lot of hard work, a lot of knocks.
“It’s only when they come in and train with the first team that they realise that the gap is so big.”
Caulfield: There are massive opportunities at Cork City
JOHN CAULFIELD BELIEVES that Cork City’s legacy of transferring players to clubs in Britain shows young players that there are opportunities for progression at the club.
The most recent export, Brian Lenihan, joined Hull City in August 2014 but there have been many other high-profile players to have plied their trade on Leeside prior to moving abroad, including current Ireland internationals Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and David Meyler.
Over the years City have also sent numerous players to the lower tiers of English football, with former Under-19 captain Alan Browne making his mark in League One with Preston North End this season, while others, such as Alan Bennett, Joe Gamble, Denis Behan, Dave Mooney and Roy O’Donovan have all forged respectable careers for themselves since departing Turner’s Cross.
“Young players can see that they can progress through our system and get into the first team. They can see the opportunities are massive, with our history of selling players to England,” Caulfield said.
“Lenny (Brian Lenihan) was a brilliant example because he went straight to the Premier League, which is like winning the Lotto.
“But, being realistic, we have lots of fellows that are good enough for the Championship or League One, like Alan Browne at Preston, and could make real full-time careers for themselves in England.
“We’ve sent lots of lads over there, if you look at the likes of [Alan] Bennett, [Dave] Mooney, [Brian] Barry-Murphy and Roy O’Donovan.
“We want to be seen as a club that promotes our players to the top level and we wish them good luck after that.” Nevertheless, the Leesiders boss warned that, while opportunities existed, progression would inevitably rely on the hard work and application of individuals.
“There are massive opportunities [at Cork City] for young players coming through, but it’s massive hard work,” added Caulfield.
“It’s only when they come in and train with the first team that they realise that the gap is so big.”
By Ryan Kelly
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