Young Temple Villa player to feature on RTÉ 'Total Football' programme

As World Cup play-off qualification fever grips the nation, one young Temple Villa player had the privilege of being in the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night last as the Republic of Ireland defeated Portugal to secure the first of two wins that guaranteed the team's progress to this stage of the global tournament.

Alison White, who plays for the Temple Villa girls' Under 13 team, was the focal point on an episode of the RTÉ programme 'Total Football', during which she reported on the 'unseen side of the game', with 'behind-the-scenes access and in-depth analysis on the stories that shape the beautiful game'.

As part of her remit, the programme's producers invited the Mount Temple native to the Aviva Stadium where she interviewed those who regularly contribute to the matchday experience at the Dublin 4 venue.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, her mother Sinead White, said the experience marked the culmination of a programme application process which started in June 2024.

"In the summer of last year I received an email from the programme's producers who were looking to cast young people in the new series of 'Total Football'," Sinead said.

Sinead, who is the principal of St Oliver Plunkett's NS in Moate, said hopeful participants had to submit a "sporting action reel" to the show's producers in the hope of being selected for the programme.

"Lauren, Alison's older sister, recorded her in action doing a number of football drills in our garden and submitted the audition recording to the producers. However, we received no correspondence from RTÉ until last week when Alison was asked if she wanted to travel to the Aviva Stadium to take part in the programme," Sinead said.

The An Grianán NS sixth class pupil travelled to Dublin with her father Colin and while there she interviewed the stadium's operations manager, security team personnel and catering staff during what was, her mother said, a "memorable experience".

Alison also worked alongside the cameraman in the tunnel as both teams entered the field of play and watched the game unfold from the media section of the stadium.

"She could not have chosen a better game to have such an experience. She was on the go all day but really savoured the occasion," Sinead said.

A prominent player with Temple Villa, Alison is also an integral member of the Midlands Schoolgirls League Emerging Talent Programme (ETP), but her sporting talent is not just limited to football.

Alison played a key role in her school's Division 3 Cumann na mBunscoil GAA success in May, scoring 1-3 and being named 'Player of the Match' in An Grianán's comprehensive win over St Cremin's NS in Cusack Park Mullingar.

You can watch the episode featuring Alison in Aviva Stadium action when 'Total Football' is broadcast on RTÉ2 and streamed on the RTÉ Player early in the new year.