Athlone's Adrian Carberry appointed Academy Director at Longford Town FC

Athlone native Adrian Carberry has been appointed Academy Director at Longford Town FC.

The former Athlone Town player and men's first team manager will oversee all aspects of the club’s academy structure, including player development pathways, coach development, recruitment, governance, and the continued integration of academy players into the club’s senior teams.

A statement issued by Longford Town confirming Carberry's appointment said he has 'an outstanding reputation within Irish football, bringing over 18 years of experience across academy, senior, and international football environments'.

'A UEFA Pro Licence holder, Adrian has built an impressive career in player development, coach education, talent identification, and football governance, making him an exceptional addition to our academy set up'.

'Having recently served as the Regional High Performance Coach with the FAI in Galway, Adrian has been responsible for delivering coach development programmes, identifying elite young talent, and supporting academy structures across both boys’ and girls’ pathways'.

'Prior to this, Adrian spent sixteen years as FAI County Development Officer in Roscommon, delivering development programmes across the county working closely with local clubs, leagues, schools, and local authorities to grow the game at every level'.

'Alongside his development work, Adrian has amassed significant experience within the League of Ireland and international football. He has held senior coaching roles with Athlone Town FC and Castlebar Celtic Women, while also serving as a coach and analyst with the Republic of Ireland Women’s Under-19 international team'.

'A passionate advocate for coach education, Adrian has also worked extensively as an FAI Coach Developer and Tutor, delivering UEFA coaching licences and mentoring coaches throughout the Irish football pathway. This commitment to developing both players and coaches made Adrian the outstanding candidate in this recruitment process'.

Welcoming Adrian to the club, Longford Town FC chairman Jim Hanley said Carberry would bring "experience, expertise and leadership to the role, having worked at every level of the game in Ireland".

"This appointment represents another important step forward for the club as we continue to strengthen our academy structure and invest in the future.

"Adrian’s knowledge of the League of Ireland landscape and his extensive experience within the FAI and international pathways will be invaluable as we strive to provide the best possible environment for our young players.

We look forward to welcoming Adrian to the club and wish him every success in his new role," the chairperson said.