In a slightly different matchday interview this week I had the chance to catch up with men’s under-20 manager Russell Porter.
Having been involved in the academy at multiple age groups Porter has revealed how he joined the club, his views on how the academy keep producing young players for the first team and the state of youth football in Ireland at the moment.
We began our chat with how he initially got involved in coaching.
He stated, “I’ve been involved in coaching for a long time even when I was a young player still playing. I would have been asked to help out at summer tournaments and coach. I’ve been coaching intensely now for 14/15 years.”
His coaching caught the eye which led to an invitation to join the coaching staff within the Harps Academy at under-17 level.
Russell said about joining Harps, “Kevin asked me into the U17 role two seasons ago and he told me about how good some of the young players are in the Academy. Once I saw the quality of the first session I was very keen to be part of Finn Harps. I progressed this season to Head Coach of the U20 team which is a role I’m really enjoying.”
With Harps operating as one of the youngest squads in the league this season I asked Porter what it’s like to see so many academy graduates feature at senior level.
He told me, “It’s an unbelievable feeling seeing a young player that you had in a youth team make the step into first team football and it’s what really gives me the buzz and enthusiasm for coaching.”
“When I was a teenager all I wanted was to be a player in a senior team and if my coaching team and myself can help a young player in any way to fulfil their potential we are very happy.”
With this season seeing a few players aged 16 and 17 make a string of appearances in the first team, I wanted to know what makes the Harps Academy so successful in creating players ready to step up and stand out.
Porter describes the qualities as “hard work and long hours”. He added “I’ve only been involved with Finn Harps a short time but it’s clear to see Kevin and all his staff have worked very hard now for a number of years.”
Continuing he said, “Firstly it’s identifying the best young players around the north west, then supporting them and finally developing them into first team environments. This doesn’t happen in 1/2 years. It takes a long time and there’s always bumps along the road. To have players from all over the county alongside players from Tyrone and Derry is making it successful.”
To help create players ready to step into the first team Porter has established a philosophy for his players based on a good mentality.
He revealed, “I’d hope to think my teams have BELIEF and HUNGER in them that outweighs our opponents. Although it’s U20 football and we are here to accommodate the first team our team plays to win so a winning philosophy suits my coaches and I very well.”
The quality of youth football in this country is always improving which is reflected in performances of the underage national teams. I asked Porter how he sees the quality of the teams Harps are facing.
He explained, “I think the standard is very decent, physically it’s a huge step up from Irish League youth football in the North.
“There’s so many different styles, the Dublin based sides fancy themselves and will play out and pass the ball but then you’ll get a team that wants to sit off you and hit you on the counter attack so it’s been very enjoyable competing against the best U20’s on the island of Ireland.”