SHELBOURNE CEO DAVE O’Connor hailed the appointment of Noel King as Women’s National League team manager as a “statement of intent”.
King will take charge of Shels WNL side for the 2021 campaign, replacing Dave Bell following his departure earlier this month.
King spent almost a decade in charge of Ireland’s Women’s National Team from 2000 to 2010 before taking over as men’s U21 manager, while his long-standing involvement with the FAI also included a brief stint as caretaker manager of the men’s senior national team.
Speaking to Shelbourne’s The 1895 Podcast, King immediately set his sights on reining in WNL champions Peamount United and bringing the league title back to Tolka Park for the first time since 2016.
Shels finished in second place, five points adrift, in the Covid-curtailed 2020 campaign which was reduced to just 12 games.
“It’s a good solid strong team but obviously the aim is to pull back Peamount and that’s going to be a difficult task,” King said. “I’m really looking forward to it.
There’s a lot of structures in place but sometimes the hardest step is to turn runners-up into first place and that’s the challenge, to make that step.
“The club is steeped in the tradition of football so when you start thinking of men’s football, you think of Shelbourne and that’s the way it should be.
“Now when you think of women’s football in Ireland you can think of Shelbourne too.
“I am incredibly excited to be able to welcome Noel to our club today,” Shels CEO O’Connor said.
This announcement is a statement of intent from the club in relation to how seriously we actually support our female teams at the club.
“Often, the support for women’s and girls’ football can amount to little more than PR exercises but Shels have taken initiatives that show that the club is serious, including a complete reorganisation of the club to fully integrate the female operations.
“We are really looking forward to working with Noel in continuing to move forward in this direction.”
God love them, another hanger on from the old FAI.
Just don’t ask him any tough questions.
Imagine this scenario:
You’re a passionate , hungry , enthusiastic young Irish football coach that’s completed you’re coaching badges and has worked both in Ireland , England and in some cases the continent with professional football clubs at senior and junior level ……
Then you read this article !
And people wonder why Irish football hasn’t developed much over past two decades !
@conex: love to know who these guys are. Very few would have all the badges and I doubt any have the experience King has
@conex: dream on
Even if you don’t rate or like Noel from his time with the FAI this is a great appointment for Shels. He had a long stint as coach of the Irish women’s team so has done a lot more than most in progressing the women’s game
Another fraud straight off the FAI gravy train
… The more things change the more they stay the same
Best of luck Kinger. Top man for the job
@David Byrne: top man! Pissin myself here
Wow what moan bags. I cant say anything else cayse they block me. But a female group of dogs comes to mind…….. you all are. Be fair to thean he has given his whole life to irish football. Whike he was womens manager he was running the under 17 girls team too. He knew every kid and every family. I know my niece was one of them. He alway took time wit all the players . Always got the impression he never worried about the money.. Give the man a break ffs. Start the new year and wish peoole good luck
This fella is a bigger dinosaur the Big Sam…
FAI old boy should be put out to grass!!!