League of Ireland to launch new WU16 LOI Academy League in 2027
- New programme, launched by Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister Charlie McConalogue, will deliver an expanded and enhanced female player pathway, creating more opportunities for young female players.
- Expanded pathway will provide more than 400 additional girls with access to the League of Ireland Academy system.
The League of Ireland will introduce a new Women’s Under-16 (WU16) League of Ireland Academy programme from 2027, creating an important additional step within the female player development pathway.
The new programme forms part of the wider restructuring of the League of Ireland Girls Academy Programme and will see more than 400 additional girls gain access to the League of Ireland Academy system.
As part of the new announcement, the League of Ireland Girls Academy pathway will be restructured from 2027 to include WU16 and WU18 Academy Leagues, alongside the Women’s Development League, which was successfully launched in 2026.
The expansion will significantly increase the number of talented young female players benefiting from a structured Academy development environment, providing more opportunities for players to develop within the League of Ireland pathway.
The new initiative was formally launched at FAI Headquarters at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown with Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister Charlie McConalogue.
The expansion of the girls’ Academy pathway, including the introduction of the new WU16 programme, is being supported by the additional full-time Academy capacity created through Government investment in the League of Ireland Academy system.
Thanks to the Government funded LOI Academy Investment Programme, new Academy Directors and Heads of Academy Coaching are now being appointed across League of Ireland clubs, providing dedicated professional leadership to plan, manage and continually improve Academy environments.
The investment represents a significant step in strengthening the structures around player development across the League of Ireland, while also supporting clubs in creating sustainable and high-quality pathways for young players.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said:
“This new Women’s Under-16 League of Ireland Academy programme is an important step forward in providing more opportunities for girls to develop and progress in football. Government investment in the League of Ireland Academy system is helping to put the structures and professional expertise in place to support the next generation of players. Expanding opportunities for women and girls is a key priority for Government, and this initiative demonstrates how investment in sport can deliver meaningful opportunities at every level.”
Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue said:
“Creating strong and sustainable pathways for young female players is essential to the continued growth of women’s football in Ireland. The introduction of the new WU16 and WU18 Academy Leagues, alongside the Women’s Development League, will give more girls the opportunity to participate, develop and progress within the League of Ireland system. The Government’s investment in the Academy programme is helping clubs to build the coaching and leadership capacity needed to provide high-quality development environments, and I look forward to seeing more young players benefit from these opportunities in the years ahead.”
Will Clarke, Head of LOI Academies, said:
“The support of Government has given us the opportunity to significantly expand the League of Ireland Academy programme for young female players. As part of that expansion, we are restructuring the girls’ pathway to introduce WU16 and WU18 Academy Leagues alongside the Women’s Development League, creating a clearer and more progressive pathway for young players.
“Importantly, this expansion will provide more than 400 additional girls with the opportunity to enter the League of Ireland Academy system and benefit from the improved environments and additional full-time capacity that Government investment is helping us to build. This is another important step in creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for female players across the country.”
“None of this would have been possible without the support of Government through the LOI Academy Investment Programme, and I would like to sincerely thank Ministers Patrick O’Donovan and Charlie McConalogue, together with Sport Ireland, for their invaluable support. That investment is allowing us to expand the Academy programme, create opportunities for hundreds more young female players and build the full-time professional capacity within clubs required to provide them with better development environments.
“This is a very tangible example of Government investment translating directly into greater opportunities for young players and a stronger League of Ireland Academy system for the future.”
Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland, Director, said:
“The development of the WU16 League of Ireland programme is a major milestone for the continued growth of the female player pathway. By providing more girls with access to a structured League of Ireland Academy environment, we are creating more opportunities for players to develop their potential and progress through the pathway.
“The additional full-time Academy capacity being created through Government investment is equally important. Having dedicated Academy Directors and Heads of Academy Coaching within our clubs will provide the leadership and expertise needed to establish sustainable, high-quality development environments.”
