We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Ian McClurg Learn Perform Coaching as we expand our International Programme at the club.
Our International Programme creates opportunities and pathways for young footballers from across the world to experience a professional, full-time football environment as they thrive to seek a career in the sport.
With the programme going from strength to strength and experiencing incredible growth over the past couple of years, it is an exciting time as we establish our first International Partnership with Ian McClurg Learn Perform Coaching.
Based in Canada, Ian McClurg’s Learn Perform Coaching is one of the country’s leading private soccer academies, providing young players in Canada with the opportunities and pathways to professional opportunities in the game.
Through our new partnership, young players from Canada will have the opportunity to come over to Northern Ireland and experience our full-time, professional environment, training full-time with our Scholarship Programme and opening the door to further opportunities down the line.
Ian McClurg, who is from Northern Ireland himself, has helped to place young international players at clubs such as Wolves and Fleetwood Town and this new partnership opens a brand-new emerging market here in Larne.
Speaking on the announcement of the partnership, Technical Director and Project Lead of our International Programme, Keith O’Hara said:
“I’m delighted to make it official.
“Ian and his team have been fantastic to work with and with our International Programme growing massively over the last few months, we couldn’t think of a better partner to have.
“We look forward to bringing more young players across and immersing them in our full-time environment here in Northern Ireland, helping them not only become better football, but a better and more well-rounded professional overall.”
Ian McClurg, founder of Ian McClurg Learn Perform Coaching, is delighted with the new partnership, stating:
“We are pleased to strengthen our ongoing partnership with Larne Football Club and make it official. For over twenty years, I have supported North American players in securing training opportunities and trials at professional clubs across the UK and Europe.
“The level of care and professionalism shown by Larne’s coaching and support staff has been exceptional.
“The largest challenge facing North American players is the limited access to full-time training environments. Our players at Larne train full-time and are fully immersed in the Larne FC scholarship programme. They are returning to Canada not only as more accomplished footballers but also as more mature and well-rounded individuals.
Players who have trained at Larne Football Club so far have went on to secure professional contracts and formal trials as a direct result of that full-time experience and we are keen to expand this relationship in the years to come.”
