'It gives you maybe a little bit more belief that you can get there' - Aaron Hughes relishing National Football Centre 'legacy' for future players
Home hero Aaron Hughes is backing real gains for Northern Ireland football’s future generations from the “aspirational” benefits of a national training facility outside Ballymena.
Hughes, the current Irish Football Association technical director, enjoyed a playing career from Cookstown to the elite standards of the game with club and country.
Speaking at an update to the proposed National Football Centre based beside the Galgorm Resort, Hughes highlighted his faith the project will create a “legacy” across the game.
“You could be a young player playing or training on the same pitches as (current Northern Ireland internationals) a Conor Bradley or a Simone Magill,” said Hughes. "So it creates that kind of legacy...definitely a positive step.
"Where your aspirations and goals to be a professional footballer and to emulate some of the people you're watching on the pitch right now, it just brings you that little bit closer and actually gives you maybe a little bit more belief that you can get there.
"Because not every person that uses it may go on to be a senior international footballer, but at least they can still use it knowing that they're also following in the footsteps a little bit of their heroes.”
Hughes added: "When I was growing up everything seemed so far away, you know even the amount of football we watched on TV, professional football was across the water.
"We're hoping this facility brings that a little bit closer where people can feel a little bit part of it and the aspirational aspect to it.
"And the identity is a big thing, I know in terms of eligibility and players having the option to play for at times more than one country, that's where a facility where you feel part of a team and something maybe a little bit bigger also helps.
"Trying to sell us to say, we should be your choice...here's why, come and be part of this.
"Feedback from other organisations all said the same thing, it just gave them a much better sense of identity and it gave the players a much better sense of identity."
Irish FA chief operating officer Graham Fitzgerald described a timeline of January planning submission towards operational mid-2028, with officials “entirely comfortable” over funding progress.