The Irish FA JD National Residential Academy has a new home after its operation moved to Campbell College in east Belfast at the start of the school term this September.
Players and staff have moved from the Jordanstown campus of Ulster University, where they resided for five years from 2019 to 2024, and are now based at Campbell College.
The players will still compete with their clubs at weekends but have residence at the academy, from Sunday to Thursday, where they continue their education alongside completing a full-time football programme.
The new development will also see the addition of the Blanchflower Stadium being utilised as the chosen venue for technical and tactical pitch sessions. Players will report there each day after school for some light pre-training food before training.
The Irish FA's Director of Elite Performance, Andy Waterworth, said: “We are delighted with this development. It signals a new era for our residential elite youth academy.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank everybody connected to Ulster University and particularly at Jordanstown for hosting our operation and look forward to the players and staff bedding in to the new surroundings.
“Campbell College and Blanchflower Stadium share our commitment and desire to create the right environment with top class facilities to give our players the best opportunity to progress as professional footballers.”
