Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough praise for Irish League player pathway

Joel Cooper’s recent switch from Linfield to Oxford United followed the route of former Irish League players like Mark Sykes and Gavin Whyte.

Baraclough believes the pathway can only thrive - thanks to the growth of the game in Northern Ireland.

“Younger players now are being given more of a chance at clubs here, I’ve seen that develop over the last three years working with the under 21s,” said Baraclough, who was promoted to senior international manager in June. “There are players over here I think in the next few years have a chance of getting across the water to England or Scotland and making a good career.

“You’ve seen Joel now make that jump off the back of Mark and Gavin but there’s more that can do that.

“Again, they have to have the mindset, not just that getting over there is the be all and end all, it’s staying there and being able to make a career for themselves.

“Look at Stuart Dallas, having come from Crusaders to Brentford and he’s now a Premier League player (with Leeds United) and what’s considered a senior player within the international set-up.

“From where he was at Crusaders and even before that (Coagh United), he’s made that transition through hard work.

“He’s got talent but he’s used that talent and has to be a role model for those playing over here.

“It’s a good level here now and to get into the first-team level is a big jump but then to make that jump further takes hard work and dedication.

“When I was in charge at Sligo we would have come up against teams from the North in the Setanta Cup,

“I think there was probably more of a gap then than there is now.

“With the likes of Linfield, Glentoran, Cliftonville, Crusaders and Larne, I think there are more teams now that can be on a par, if not better, than the teams in the South.”

Baraclough’s time at Sligo offered an insight into summer football and, following the emergence of plans to introduce a cross-border All-Island League competition, can understand the viewpoint of both camps.

“I was a big advocate of the summer league down South, I understand the traditions of everything here like playing games on Boxing Day and get that,” he said. “But when going into European competitions, for the teams down South you gave yourself more of a chance having played half your season leading up to those European competitions.

“But again, I see both sides and arguments both ways.

“Clearly if you’re playing in a league that’s more competitive and you’ve got eight, nine, 10 teams pretty much on a par it’s going to breed better players.

“You are going to get better quality out on the park, players are going to improve quicker and you’ll probably find more players going to a higher level as in England or Scotland.

“It will improve both international teams for sure by giving you a bigger pool of players to choose from and I see a benefit in it.

“But it’s got to work for everybody financially as well.

“You can’t just have the top teams going away from everybody then certain teams left behind.

“It’s got to be right for everybody but I’m sure there can be some sort of format that brings everybody into the mix and can be a really good leap for North and South to produce players.”

Baraclough is counting down to Northern Ireland facing Romania in the UEFA Nations League on September 4 before a scheduled home clash three days’ later in Belfast against Norway. However, ahead of the Romania date, the prospect of fixtures switched to neutral venues in some countries remains a possibility due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I haven’t met players face-to-face but I’ve spoken to probably 34 or 35 players,” he said. “They’ve been in various stages of end of seasons, hopefully starting pre-seasons, some still on lockdown, some still on self-imposed isolation, some out of contract, some signing for new clubs...it’s a whole different scenario from what we would’ve seen on any other pre-season or end of season.

“I’ve a nice blend of continuity, players in the squad, players who have just found their way into the squad, staff members who have been there for a long time and one or two who have been brought in because there have been places to be filled.

“We’re all focused on September 4 and September 7 (home to Norway), until we’re told otherwise, we’re intending to fly to Romania having prepared in Belfast.

“The Northern Ireland Executive has allowed us to go into Romania, stay in our own bubble, play the game, come out that night.

“We’ll be guided by the NI Executive and medical people and quite rightly we don’t want to put anyone at risk.

“We all want to see football fans back in the stadium, we want a packed house and for my first home game I’d loved it to be packed to the rafters.

“I’d love the chanting, the excitement, you can feel it. I’ve said it before, to be walking across that bridge with a buzz around the place, the lights are on, there’s no better atmosphere.

“The reason we play the game is to be in front of a packed house and the more fans the better, so it will be strange (if behind closed doors) but we have to get our heads around it and be prepared for it.

“When we go away to Romania, it’s a 60,000 capacity stadium, so with it being empty it is going to be strange, but again results suggest it’s a leveller, so we can use that to our advantage.”

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