NI’s National Training Centre could have ‘huge’ impact, says IFA technical director Aaron Hughes

Irish Football Association technical director Aaron Hughes has said the newly announced National Training Centre could make a “huge” difference in developing the country’s next generation.

On Wednesday, the IFA confirmed plans to build a new facility on a 50-acre site in Galgorm, near Ballymena.

Having found a location for the facility, Hughes says it marks the “first step” in a new journey for Northern Irish football.

“As a young player coming through, if you had something like this, you’d want to come and train at it, you’d want to be a part of it,” said Hughes.

“You’d feel you’d be able to follow in the footsteps of the players ahead. I think last year, when our under-17s were in St George’s in the elite rounds, the England senior team were staying there at the same time.”

Former Northern Ireland captain Hughes, who was appointed IFA technical director in late 2022, added: “For our young players to be able to train and perform alongside the senior players and maybe create opportunities like that, it’s what we’ve been missing for so long.”