History

The North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League was formed in 1973 with eight teams under the age of ten. The League now comprises of approx. 285 teams (age 7-11) and over 300 Teams (Age 11-18)  together with 22 girls / women's teams who compete in our league each weekend.

The League has grown in stature into one of the largest in Europe. The NDSL is a leader in Schoolboy football and plays a vital role at national level.

The current League Chairman, Liam Farrell, is a former Chairman of the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland and along with Tony Gains, Hon. Secretary, Frank Molloy Hon. Treasurer and NDSL Academy Director Bob Smith represent the League on the SFAI Council.

The NDSL was the first League to introduce small sided games into Ireland for boys and girls under the age of 11. The league was also the first to introduce basic coaching for the 7 to 11 year olds. Small sided games are now played countrywide and have been a great success in the development of our players.

The League in 1999 realised that the way forward was through coaching. Yet again the NDSL was the first to introduce an Academy into the country. In September 1999 the North Dublin S.L. Football Academy was launched. The aim of the Academy is to progress the game of association football through the improvement of playing standards within the league, to improve the standard of coaching and team management within the league, to organise opportunities for advanced coaching and to provide representative football for league players as part of their development.

In 2001 the Academy introduced the Colts Division (Age 7-10) on a trial basis. It was such a major success that in 2002 the Colts Division was formally established. The Academy now mirrors the French structure in that it has a good and forward looking youth development plan. It identifies players at an early age. It provides excellent facilities for coaching and playing. It also provides good opportunities for youth coaches at all levels.

It is now in 2008 playing a leading role in the FAI Emerging Talent Programme. Through this programme and the Academy ethos and policies it plays a vital role in the development of our young players.