Athlone Town announces major partnership deal with US-based club
Athlone Town AFC and USA-based Valeo Futbol Club have announced a new "strategic partnership" aimed at improving and developing all of the League of Ireland club’s teams.
Under the terms of the partnership, Valeo FC will lend its footballing expertise to all of Athlone Town’s teams and help oversee their technical direction.
"The goal of this exciting partnership is to create a world-class training and development environment for elite players and coaches from all over Ireland and attract talented young players from across the globe," said a statement from Athlone Town.
Additionally, it will lead efforts to transform Athlone’s youth academy into "a global football development centre of excellence for ambitious players and coaches".
Based in Newton, Massachusetts, close to Boston, Valeo FC already has partnership agreements with clubs in Portugal.
“Athlone Town Association Football Club has a great history as the oldest team in the League of Ireland,” said Valeo Futbol Club’s Founder and President, Emelio Williams.
“With this exciting new partnership, we will work hand-in-hand to improve all of the club’s teams, strengthen the club’s training program and develop the next generation of players,” he added.
Athlone Town's lengthy presence in men’s senior football competitions is well known, and the club has recently seen its women’s team rise to the top of the domestic game.
Last weekend the club captured the President's Cup, its first major trophy in women's senior competition, following a penalty shoot-out win over Shelbourne.
The club has stated that one of the key ambitions of this new partnership with Valeo is to bring the glory days back to 'The Town' and give football fans in the Midlands something they can rally behind.
While the partnership is in its infancy, players brought to Athlone by Valeo have made major contributions to the senior men's team victories in the opening two games of the 2023 league campaign, including last Friday night's 3-1 victory over Finn Harps.
“This partnership will help Athlone get to the next level in and improve our competitiveness of our men’s team in the First Division,” said Athlone Town AFC President John Hayden.
“But perhaps more importantly, it will help our players – and generations of players to come – access new opportunities to play football at the highest levels in Ireland and Europe.”
On its website, Valeo FC states that it "aims to be a world-class, internationally recognized, soccer training academy that develops elite youth athletes for collegiate or professional play".