Players from Ireland plying their trade in the English football pyramid is nothing new. Standout names include the mercurial George Best, the ruthless Roy Keane and the ever-dependable Seamus Colman. All these players have, of course, been at the very top of the English game. So what is it that attracts clubs in the lower reaches of the English Football League to cast their eyes over the Irish Sea? In this two part report, the second of which contains an exclusive interview with Lincoln City CEO Liam Scully, I look to find an answer to that question.
According to Transfermarkt , nearly 29% of the non-English players in League One and just under 34% in League Two originate from Northern Ireland or the Republic. These percentages are a lot higher than those for players from the Scotland and Wales.
So, why do League One and Two clubs find the Irish market such an attractive proposition? To help me dig deeper into this matter, I enlisted the help of Irish Football Podcaster ‘The Green Machine’ (@GM_Pod) and another Irish football expert ‘Irish Propaganda’ (@IrishPropaganda). I have to say a massive thanks for the assistance and insight that was offered.
In order for there to be players clubs want to sign, I asked what it is the League of Ireland clubs are doing to produce these young players. Both of my experts referred to the fact that League of Ireland teams aren’t afraid to give youth a chance. @IrishPropaganda discussed how the coaches at grassroots level are talented and have keen players to work with, with the sport now being the number 1 participation sport in Ireland.
What is it that attracts EFL clubs to the Irish market?
Irish Propaganda – Talent. The English sides can get lads on the cheap due to short term contracts. Financial strength is huge for foreign sides looking at Ireland.
Green Machine –The League of Ireland has gone on to produce a huge bulk of the current national team with Seamus Coleman, James McClean, Matt Doherty and Chiedoze Ogbebe all key members of the squads. The chances of uncovering another Coleman or even Paul McGrath or Roy Keane is a real possibility for EFL clubs.
The fact that players can be prized away from their teams relatively cheaply means that the risk to EFL clubs is low yet the potential rewards are high. If they can unearth the next gem for minimal outlay, the possible sell on profit could allow the club to grow and develop.
The benefits for the buying club would appear to be financial, alongside getting a very talented footballer of course, so what does a move to England mean to the player himself?
Is a move to England what the players in the League of Ireland are looking for?
Irish Propaganda – League of Ireland players do eye up English/Scottish leagues, it’s true. Again, financially it’s a no-brainer. I’m sure if it was a level playing field, most League of Ireland lads would stay, but it’s not. For the younger lads, Europe has opened up due to Brexit. Kevin Zefi from Shamrock Rovers to Inter Milan and Cathal Heffernan from Cork City to AC Milan are prime examples.
Do the players see the EFL as a steppingstone to the Premier League?
Irish Propaganda – I’m not sure about a steppingstone but a lot, especially the young lads, fancy their chances in youth Premier League sides. Evan Ferguson being an example. Lads have also been at PL teams but not broken through and have gone down the divisions and come back up- John Egan for example.
Green Machine- Many players who go to EFL clubs must surely be thinking the Premier League is the aim. Jamie Vardy has shown how players can climb the ladder and in recent years, so many more Championship players are being signed by Premier League sides. Even playing in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup can pit players against the very best and offers an opportunity for players to challenge themselves against the very best.
Are they more likely to feature in the national team if they play in England?
Irish Propaganda- If you perform in the League of Ireland, you will get rewarded. Jack Byrne, Danny Mandriou and James Talbot are examples of that in the past. Stephen Kenny is a manager who was made in the League of Ireland, if playing to a high standard, he’d have no doubt picking League of Ireland lads. Derry City’s Michael Duffy has been on standby for squads also.
Green Machine- The reality is, if a player plays in England, they seem to automatically be on the radar. There have only been a handful of League of Ireland players capped in the last 30 years whilst with League of Ireland clubs. In recent times we have seen more League 1 players getting call ups which was never the case and many people in Ireland feel that League of Ireland players are just as capable.
The benefit to players appears to be threefold, finances, a chance to move up the leagues and a better opportunity to impress the national team manager. Like in most walks of life, if a player is offered money they see as impacting positively on their lives, a footballer can’t be begrudged that opportunity. The monetary possibilities are, of course, multiplied vastly should the player continue the rise up to the Premier League.
Internationally, of the four League of Ireland players mentioned by Irish Propaganda as being rewarded internationally, only Jack Byrne has taken the field for the Republic, earning himself 4 caps to date. Danny Mandriou and James Talbot were both called up to squads whilst Michael Duffy has changed his international allegiance from Northern Ireland and has yet to make an appearance for the Republic.
In contrast, the recently named Republic of Ireland squad contains many players from the English Championship such as struggling Wigan’s Will Keane and Callum O’Dowda of Cardiff City as well as League One Derby County’s Jason Knight and there are no players selected from the League of Ireland.
Players to Watch
With the discussion about why players cross the Irish Sea to ply their trade, I wanted to find out who are the next hotly tipped youngsters to make that journey. Both Irish Propaganda and Green Machine picked the exact same three, so let’s take a look:
James McManus – the 17-year-old Bohemians midfielder started his young career at St Kevin’s Boys and made his Bohemians first team debut in April 2022, only a month after his latest birthday. Manager Declan Devine has heaped praise on his young player in an article with Independent.ie, saying, “The sky is the limit. He is tied down to a four-year contract here, that is the limit. If anyone want him, they can write their cheques, but this boy is only going to get better. Honestly.”
Justin Ferizaj – the 18-year-old Shamrock Rovers midfielder has already attracted the attention of some of Europe’s leading clubs, including Sampdoria and Juventus and was on trial at Tottenham Hotspurs in the 2022 close season.
Sam Curtis – the 17-year-old St Pat’s full back made his senior debut for Shamrock Rovers 2 in the League of Ireland First Division and joined St Pats in July 2021. He went on to be St Pats’ youngest ever starter (aged 16) in 2022 and made 20 senior appearances that year. He is wanted by a lot of clubs in the UK and Europe, including Dutch giants Feyenoord.
Young Players to Recently Make the Move
I wanted to take a look at the players who were mentioned in my discussions as ones who have recently swapped the League of Ireland for football in England.
Franco Umeh – Crystal Palace announced the signing of Cork City’s 18 year old forward in February 2023 and he will go into the club’s Under 18s. Umeh made his Cork City debut as a 17 year old but only made a further 2 appearances for the club before heading to London. Palace academy director Gary Issott had this to say about the 18-year-old Irishman, “Franco is a tall, exciting, attaking player with blistering pace and a strong left foot.
Mark O’Mahoney – the forward joined Brighton and Hove Albion in January 2023 and is another product of Cork City. The 18 year old striker who was named Ireland Under 17s Player of the Year in 2022 and has already represented his country at Under 18 and 19 level is currently playing for Brighton’s Under 21 side, writes Independent.ie.
Evan Ferguson- O’Mahoney’s Brighton teammate is likely the most well known on this list. He made the move in January 2021 as 16 year old after coming through the Bohs/St Kevin’s Academy and making his Bohemian’s first team debut at the age of 14! Ferguson has gone from strength to strength and has been heavily linked with Manchester United and has already started and scored for his national side.
🇮🇪| Brighton boss, Roberto De Zerbi, on Evan Ferguson:
“Ferguson is a special striker”
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/h54Ul3Zqyi
— IrishPropaganda🇮🇪⚽️ (@IrishPropaganda) March 25, 2023
Sean McLoughlin- Hull City signed another former Cork man in July 2019. He joined Cork in 2017 and established himself in the first team the following year, going on to attract the Tigers’ interest. He has since spent time on loan at St Mirren before retuning to Hull and establishing himself in their first team, even winning player of the month for last month. He had been linked with Liverpool before his move to the East Riding of Yorkshire.
David Harrington – the 22 year old goalkeeper signed for Fleetwood Town in January of this after being named in the League of Ireland team of the year and winning the league with Cork City. the young stopper had been linked with Everton before his move to Highbury.
There has been a steady stream of players swapping Ireland for England and that shows no sign of slowing down. Academies in Ireland are clearly producing talented young players who clubs in England are more than happy to take a chance on due to the relatively inexpensive financial package that is required. The potential reward for the ‘risk’ taken by the English club is perhaps soon to be seen with Brighton and Evan Ferguson, who will no doubt command a substantial fee should they sell their starlet to someone like Manchester United.
For their part, the Irish clubs are in need of more financial backing to allow them to tie their best players and prospects down to longer, more financially rewarding contracts in order for them to at least gain a stronger stance in the negotiations of the transfer. Green Machine explains that, whilst many fans see the number of players heading to England as a testament to the league, the biggest frustration are the fees that are being paid for the players due to not having suitable contracts in place.
The money issues in the Irish game are echoed by Irish Propaganda, who claimed that the television money in the League of Ireland is so small compared to other countries in Europe and stated that if the national broadcaster, RTE, and the government took a serious interest in the league then the clubs will get richer and the league better overall.
No mention of the League of Ireland or Women’s National League on the RTÉ “sports news” tonight???
I for one am shocked that our “beloved” national broadcaster doesn’t support Domestic Soccer in Ireland
They’ll jump on any sign of the Irish Men’s or Women’s success though🤬
— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) March 18, 2023
For the players, the financial package on offer is hard to turn down but for footballing reasons the move is a tempting one. A chance to put yourself on the national team radar, a hance to be in the shop window for the bigger English clubs and the possibility of pitting yourself against the elite. Perhaps the biggest choice for the player is choosing the right club, one where they can continue their development and not see their progression stalling.
Irish talent is not restricted to moving to England, with players such as Kevin Zefi and Cathal Heffernan moving to Italy and Inter Milan and AC Milan respectively. They are not the only ones, as the tweet below shows.
Whether it be in England or further afield, one thing that seems certain is the high level of talent coming out of Ireland and that the Irish future is looking bright. It will be an interesting watch for many who will no doubt keep their eye on the up and coming talent as the players look to forge their own careers as they follow in the footsteps of the big names that have gone before them.
This piece has mainly focussed on players from the Republic of Ireland and that is purely down to the statistics but that doesn’t mean that players from Northern Ireland haven’t successfully transferred to England. From the European Footballer of the Year George Best to one of the most revered goalkeepers of any generation in Pat Jennings to the modern players like Gareth McCauley and David Healy, Northern Ireland have produced players who have been successful on these shores.
Players who are currently plying their trade in League One and Two include:
Conor Bradley – Bolton Wanderers – Bradley is on loan from Liverpool after signing for them from Dungannon Swifts. The defender made his international debut for Northern Ireland at the age of just 17.
Ethan Galbraith – Salford City- the 21-year-old Manchester United is on loan at Salford City for the 2022-23 campaign. He joined United from Linfield in 2017. Galbraith has already made his international debut.
Eoin Toal – Bolton Wanderers – the 24-year-old joined Wanderers from Derry City after starting his career at hometown club Armagh City. He played over 150 games for Derry City and has been capped at Under 21 level by his national team.
Sam Glenfield and Stephen McMullan – Fleetwood Town – the Cods signed the then 17-year-olds in August 2022. Glenfield is a winger signed from Portadown, where he had been a professional since the age of 15 and McMullan is a goalkeeper signed from Warrenpoint Town and has already been linked with a move to Newcastle United. Both players have been involved with the Northern Ireland Under 19s.
There is, of course, Will Grigg who shot to fame with his very own song but I haven’t included him as he didn’t start his career in Northern Ireland.
In the second part, I speak to Lincoln City CEO Liam Scully to discuss his club’s approach to the Irish market.
Writer’s View
The reason teams are looking to Ireland for players would seem to be down to an aligning of the transfer stars. The players are talented – always helpful- they can be signed for relatively low fees, the player can earn more money and they put themselves on the radar of the national team.
After speaking to my Irish experts, I believe the number of players heading over the Irish Sea will continue and the numbers going further afield in Europe will probably increase if the clubs are unable to offer contracts that satisfy the players. If more money comes into Irish football then the English teams may find it more challenging to prize away young talents but, until then, they will continue to see their most talented leave.
