International Women's Day: WDL Building For The Future

This International Women’s Day, Dundalk FC is putting the spotlight on a vital part of the club’s future: the development of women’s football at Oriel Park. In a preview of our full interviews that featured in the next issue of the DFC Magazine, on sale at Friday’s match against Waterford, we speak to Women’s Development League manager Phil Cox and captain Aoife Fanning about the progress being made, the standards being set and the belief that women’s football in Dundalk can continue to grow.

From speaking to Phil and Aoife, it is clear that there is a long term plan: to build a women’s side capable of rising to the top level in Ireland and, in time, of representing the club in European competition.

Anyone who spends time around Oriel Park will know that the commitment is already there. The players and staff involved with the Women’s Development League side, and across the wider academy, are working with a level of professionalism and dedication that deserves real recognition. It is not always easy to give that work the attention it merits, particularly when the men’s first team dominates coverage and conversation. But that should not obscure the reality. Seven days a week at Oriel Park, serious work is being done by people who care deeply about improving players, raising standards and strengthening the future of the club.

Phil Cox, Manager

Phil, how pleased have you been with the team’s start to the season?

We retained most of our group from last season, and I think that continuity has really helped us. You can see the players understand the messages, they are focused, and they are excited about this step up into senior football. So overall, we’ve started really well and I couldn’t be any happier with how things have gone so far. There are definitely going to be challenges along the way.

Q: More broadly, where do you see women’s football going, and what ambitions do you have for this Dundalk group over the next few years?

I don’t think it’s any secret that the women’s game is growing all the time. I’ve been involved in it for around 10 years now, starting at grassroots level and then coming into Dundalk when the club first entered the national league pathway. Every year you can see the game moving forward, and that’s exciting to be part of.

When you look at the bigger picture, what is the long-term goal for this team?

We want to get to the top — there’s no point pretending otherwise. We want to compete in the Premier Division and we want to put ourselves in a position to reach that level. What’s important is that everybody stays patient with what we are trying to achieve and how quickly it can happen. Tthe focus is on building something strong and sustainable for the future.

Aoife Fanning, Captain

What does this new Women’s Development League mean to you as a player?

It means a lot. For me, Dundalk is far too big a club, and too good a club, not to have a senior women’s team. This league feels like a really important step towards that. I think it is great that this pathway is now there, and hopefully it is something that keeps building.

Q: How much is the game growing locally for girls in Dundalk and the wider area?It definitely is growing. You can really see it through things like the Louth Schoolgirls League and the number of girls now playing. When I started out, there were only a few girls, maybe three or four of us, and we were playing on boys’ teams. That was from around under-eight level. Now, when you look around, there are girls’ teams at under-eight, under-nine, under-10 and all the way up through the age groups. There are so many more girls interested in football now, which is brilliant to see.

Q: What do you see as the big challenge for the squad this season as you step up to this level?The standard is definitely higher and we know there are going to be challenges, especially against some of the stronger clubs and teams that already have senior set-ups in place. But I think we have grown a lot as a team. We work really hard. We train three nights a week and usually have matches on Sundays. It is a big commitment and there are sacrifices involved, but most of the girls are willing to make them because they are so committed to what we are doing.

Q: What message would you have for Dundalk supporters and the town?I am from Dundalk myself, and I have grown up going to matches in Oriel, including the European games, so I know that Dundalk have the best fans in the league. It would be brilliant if they could bring that same encouragement and support to the women’s team as well. It would mean a lot to all of us, because the backing is there in this town and the fans have always been a huge part of what makes Dundalk special. We really hope they can get behind us on this journey too.

Next WDL Team Matches

Sunday, 15^th March: Bohemian FC v Dundalk, Oscar Traynor Park, 2pm.

Sunday, 22^nd March: Dundalk FC v Athlone Town, Oriel Park, 2pm.