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RTÉ News
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
New documentary shines light on Irish football's rocky road
Trying to make it as a professional footballer is like walking up a mountain with a sack of bricks on your back; the climb gets steeper and the sack gets heavier every time you take a forward step. It's hard to comprehend just how difficult it is to reach the summit, but a new three-part RTÉ documentary peels back the curtain, following some aspiring stars in Shelbourne's academy as they try to navigate the road to the top. Football Families tracks players' journeys amid the the backdrop of Damien Duff's senior side winning the 2024 SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title. We meet Tallaght native Jayden Marshall, a left-sided centre-half who arrived from Crumlin United. When the family home was engulfed by a fire, football became a sanctuary. His dad asked the firemen to rescue one memento from the blaze: the Republic of Ireland shirt Jayden wore on his debut for the Under-15s: "You can have all the money in the world," he says, "but you can't buy one of them". Goalkeeper Ali Topcu is shown refining his skills in his back garden. An oversized goal is erected to test his agility, with the bumpy lawn sharpening reaction times. His father quit his job as a scaffolder to fully focus on his son's career. "Now my aim is to see Ali become a superstar," he declares. There's Cillian O'Sullivan, the diminutive and technically gifted Howth native know locally as 'the kid with the football'. And we're introduced to remarkably mature 11-year-old Joe Adewale, who announces: "My dream is to retire my parents and make my parents proud of course. Footballers spend money recklessly, they're buying lots of designer clothes, they're getting fake teeth. Football is a big business." Joe's older brother Derin is well placed to hand down valuable advice. Two years ago he joined Serie A club Lecce from Bohemians. The change in culture, language barrier and – crucially – an unfortunate knee injury derailed his move, and he returned to Shels Under-20s. Derin featured for the Reds in their recent FAI Cup clash with Fairview Rangers, chipping in with an assist in a 4-0 victory. Duff, who has since departed as first-team boss, says: "The dream scenario is four, five, six academy graduates playing for the first team." But that's a massive ask in such a competitive environment. "It's very tough for them," says Shelbourne academy director Colm Barron. "On one hand, they need to commit with unwavering faith that they'll make it. But at the same time, they have to confront the brutal reality that they may not." It's well documented that Ireland is miles behind when it comes to resources in the grassroots game. In April, the government put €1m towards an audit of League of Ireland clubs as part of longer-term plans to provide funding for academies. That audit will be completed by mid-August, but the investment can't come soon enough for those at the coal face. "You become everything," adds Barron. "If you look at what a Category 3 UK academy club would have, you've got a head of player care, you have a head of sports psychology, you have a head of sports science, you have a head of coach education. "We just don't have that infrastructure, so between the managers and coaches and the resources you have - and there's many of them that that are voluntary even working in the National League - without them we'd be absolutely lost. "They go above and beyond for players, whether it's collecting them from school to get them to training, or helping out with food, fees whatever we can do to try to help players, we do that. You become stretched in that way where you nearly become everything to the players." A new series featuring Shelbourne Football club's most promising young talent from across the country as they strive to make it as professional footballers ⚽ #FootballFamilies | Starts Thursday at 10.10pm — RTÉ One (@RTEOne) July 28, 2025 The challenges are the same for the boys and the girls. Exciting Treaty United starlet Madison McGuane features. Her mother knew she had something special when Madison travelled to a boys tournament in Birmingham aged eight despite suffering an eye injury. She had to wear an eye patch but took it off for the games and came home with the player of the tournament trophy. McGuane already has a plan mapped out for her future: "I'd love to get a scholarship and maybe go to America, play football over there and then go play with a WSL team." She may well do that (McGuane is already an established midfielder in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division), but that path is getting harder all the time as the levels in the women's game rise exponentially. "When you talk about football as an industry, it's the male and female game," adds Barron. "Both sides are falling further and further behind. That's the reality of it. I was at a tournament about a year and a half ago in Spain where I watched Espanyol Under-14s girls play Barcelona Under-14s girls in the semi-final of a tournament. The standard was exceptional, just exceptional. The athleticism, the awareness, the speed of their play. "What they have is the infrastructure there to go in and train properly and understand about diet, nutrition, hydration, training four nights a week, all of them things that create, hopefully, a top-level footballer. They may not have the financial backing, but the infrastructure is there to support them within it. That's massive." It's a grind; a daily challenge that demands absolute commitment from everyone involved. For Barron, and the many coaches like him on this island, it's a selfless job with one allure: "The passion of developing players is ultimately what drives you, you know? There's no lucrative rewards for coaches. The reward is hoping that you can help players along a pathway for them maybe to become full-time footballers, but if not, to become better people and maximise their potential, which is what we try to do." Watch the first episode of Football Families this Thursday 31 July on RTÉ One, 10.10pm.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
New Jersey police officers accuse chief of turning department into 'animal house': docs
The police chief of the North Bergen Police Department in New Jersey will be sued by five subordinates after being accused of turning the department into a den of debauchery. Notice to sue documents viewed by Fox News Digital accuse Police Chief Robert Farley, a 20-year veteran of the force, of allegedly defecating on the floor of the office multiple times, spiking the office coffee pot with Viagra and Adderall and poking an officer in the genitals with a hypodermic needle. The office was described as an "animal house." The chief, who one officer described as "moody and aggressive," was also accused of sending packages containing gay pride flags and sex toys to his officers' homes. In New Jersey, a notice to sue is required before filing a lawsuit. Half A Dozen Injured After Tractor-trailer, Dump Truck Slam Into Nj Target Officers Rasheed Siyam, Christopher Bowen and Michael F. Derin; Derin's son, Detective Michael A. Derin; and Lt. Alex Guzman all plan to sue Farley. Read On The Fox News App Aside from the claims of overall impropriety and indecency, the men have made other individual claims against the chief. Guzman said he is up for promotion to captain but that Farley has illegally refused to promote him despite an immediate need for a new captain. That allegedly stems from an accusation by Farley that Guzman filed open records requests on Farley, which Guzman denies. Bowen also claimed he was denied a promotion in retaliation by the chief. Town's Former Police Chief Explains Why Entire Department Resigned Michael F. Derin's complaint said he was terminated after making allegations of corruption within the department. Siyam said he was a victim of retaliation over those claims, too, and that Farley directed racial slurs at him. Michael A. Derin sayid Farley forced him to write a recommendation on behalf of Farley's daughter to her high school, imploring them to allow Farley's daughter into a culinary class she wanted to take. Her high school is Derin's alma mater. Derin also said that the chief made him complete school work for his daughter. One of the soon-to-be plaintiffs said he is seeing a psychologist after the workplace harassment. Fox News Digital reached out to the North Bergen mayor's office and attorneys for the township, as well as attorneys for the complainants. The North Bergen Police Department referred Fox News Digital to the Hudson County Prosecutor's office when attempting to contact Farley. That office did not immediately return a request for article source: New Jersey police officers accuse chief of turning department into 'animal house': docs
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Fox News
New Jersey police officers accuse chief of turning department into 'animal house': docs
The police chief of the North Bergen Police Department in New Jersey will be sued by five subordinates after being accused of turning the department into a den of debauchery. Notice to sue documents viewed by Fox News Digital accuse Police Chief Robert Farley, a 20-year veteran of the force, of allegedly defecating on the floor of the office multiple times, spiking the office coffee pot with Viagra and Adderall and poking an officer in the genitals with a hypodermic needle. The office was described as an "animal house." The chief, who one officer described as "moody and aggressive," was also accused of sending packages containing gay pride flags and sex toys to his officers' homes. In New Jersey, a notice to sue is required before filing a lawsuit. Officers Rasheed Siyam, Christopher Bowen and Michael F. Derin; Derin's son, Detective Michael A. Derin; and Lt. Alex Guzman all plan to sue Farley. Aside from the claims of overall impropriety and indecency, the men have made other individual claims against the chief. Guzman said he is up for promotion to captain but that Farley has illegally refused to promote him despite an immediate need for a new captain. That allegedly stems from an accusation by Farley that Guzman filed open records requests on Farley, which Guzman denies. Bowen also claimed he was denied a promotion in retaliation by the chief. Michael F. Derin's complaint said he was terminated after making allegations of corruption within the department. Siyam said he was a victim of retaliation over those claims, too, and that Farley directed racial slurs at him. Michael A. Derin sayid Farley forced him to write a recommendation on behalf of Farley's daughter to her high school, imploring them to allow Farley's daughter into a culinary class she wanted to take. Her high school is Derin's alma mater. Derin also said that the chief made him complete school work for his daughter. One of the soon-to-be plaintiffs said he is seeing a psychologist after the workplace harassment. Fox News Digital reached out to the North Bergen mayor's office and attorneys for the township, as well as attorneys for the complainants. The North Bergen Police Department referred Fox News Digital to the Hudson County Prosecutor's office when attempting to contact Farley. That office did not immediately return a request for comment.
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- The Guardian
New Jersey police chief accused of pooping on floor to harass co-workers
A New Jersey police chief has come under fire after colleagues accused him of defecating on the station floor, attempting to drug co-workers by putting viagra and Adderall in their coffee, and sticking a hypodermic needle into an officer's penis, according to a report. reported that Robert Farley, chief of North Bergen police, repeatedly harassed his co-workers with a series of so-called pranks, while he is also accused of retaliating after a colleague, who is a person of color, complained of racial harassment. Five former and current North Bergen officers plan to sue the township over Farley's behavior, which allegedly also included the police chief shaving his body hair onto people's food and 'scraping fluids from his underwear onto people seated in the chief's office'. In an email to a North Bergen spokesperson called the claims 'false and outrageous'. 'The Township of North Bergen has full confidence in Chief Robert Farley's leadership,' the spokesperson said. But Farley's accusers allege that the police chief, who took on the role in February 2024, instigated a reign of terror which one officer said included retaliation after they cooperated with an internal affairs investigation over a hostile work environment and civil rights violations. In his notice to sue, lieutenant Alex Guzman wrote: 'Chief Farley has, on several occasions, pulled his pants down and defecated on the floor in front of his entire office staff.' Guzman added: 'He has also left feces on the bathroom floor, apparently with the intent of having someone unknowingly step on it.' Michael F Derin worked as a special captain with administrative duties at the department. He wrote in his notice to sue that he and Farley had been friends before the chief's behavior towards him changed in August 2024. 'Chief Farley chases me around his office,' Derrin wrote. 'After cornering me in the filing area with no further room for retreat, he sticks a hypodermic needle through my jeans into the tip of my penis.' Derin said the needle drew blood from his penis, and said: 'From this point on, the chief creates a hostile work environment.' He wrote, 'The chief would shave his body hair on people's property, their persons, and their food,' adding: 'He was also fond of scraping fluids from his underwear onto people seated in the chief's office.' Derin's son, detective Michael A Derin, said he had witnessed Farley putting Viagra and Adderall into a coffee pot. Farley stirred the pills until they dissolved, Derin said, and then waited for someone to drink the coffee. Officer Rashid Siyam said Farley and others retaliated against him after he participated in an internal investigation into civil rights violations. Siyam said some department members had referred to him as a 'camel jockey' and 'terrorist'. published photos which seemed to support the officers' claims. In one a man who the news outlet identified as Farley is shirtless and appears to be shaving his arm over a colleagues desk. Another photo shows a toilet cubicle which appears to have been befouled. In a statement on the North Bergen police website, posted after he became chief in February 2024, Farley, who reportedly earns more than $228,000 a year, said he wrote 'proud' to lead the community. 'Like my predecessors, I will strive to lead the officers of our department to be an accessible component of our community while maintaining their competency, transparency, and professionalism,' Farley said at the time.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
NJ police chief accused of sticking subordinate with hypodermic needle, pooping on floor and spiking coffee pot with Adderall and Viagra: legal docs
A New Jersey police chief is under fire after disturbing accusations emerged Wednesday that he spiked coworkers' coffee with Viagra and Adderall, defecated on floors and even stuck a hypodermic needle into an officer's penis, according to legal papers. The unsavory antics were part of a culture of humiliation, harassment and vulgarity that North Bergen police chief Robert Farley allegedly fostered within the department since he took charge last year, according to a group of cops preparing to sue him and the town. Farley was also accused of sneaking hot peppers into officers' food, sending sex toys and gay pride flags to the home of a cop and tossing eggs 'in fits of anger' in the legal documents. Five officers filed the legal action in preparation to sue for retaliation, harassment and discrimination they said they faced at the hands of Farley and his allegedly toxic workplace. 'I've never seen anything like this in my life,' the officers' attorney, Patrick Toscano, told Wednesday. Farley, who became police chief in February 2024 after more than 20 years with the department, allegedly wasted little time to begin harassing subordinates. Michael F. Derin, who worked as a special captain in an administrative role, accused the chief of chasing him around the office before cornering him and poking him with a hypothermic needle through his jeans and into his penis in August 2024. 'When I told chief Farley I was unhappy with his actions, he told me that I didn't know how to take a joke,' Derin wrote in a notice of claim – the precursor to a lawsuit. Derin, a former detective in the department, also claimed Farley shaved his body hair over people's property and their food. When he planned on reporting the chief's behavior to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, he was fired and his son, Det. Michael A. Derin, was given lousier hours, the notice alleged. He and Lt. Alex Guzman also listed numerous times that Farley allegedly relieved himself outside of the bathroom. 'Chief Farley has, on several occasions, pulled his pants down and defecated on the floor in front of his entire office staff,' Guzman wrote in his notice of claim. One time he even pooped in the trash can of an office he was moving out of so the next police official moving into the space would find it, Guzman alleged. When Farley allegedly put hot peppers into other employees' food and heated it in the microwave, the fumes emanating from the stunt caused one lieutenant to get sick, according to the notice of claim. 'Chief Farley has also tampered with office coffee by adding prescription medications such as Adderall and Viagra, causing staff to inadvertently experience the effects of these substances without their consent,' Guzman wrote. The younger Derin said he started getting coffee from a machine because he didn't think it was safe to drink from the pot anymore, according to his notice of claim. Meanwhile, Officer Rasheed Siyam claimed in his notice that he faced racist remarks in the office and was reassigned for being a whistleblower, while Officer Christopher Bowen alleged he was also reassigned unjustifiably due to retaliation and for not hitting an illegal ticket quota. North Bergen stood by its police chief amid the accusations, telling NBC News the town 'has full confidence in Chief Robert Farley's leadership.' 'We strongly deny these false and outrageous allegations made by disgruntled officers who are resorting to attacking the reputation of a dedicated public servant to further their own selfish goals,' a town spokesperson said. 'In order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and because we are fully confident that these claims will be proven false, we have proactively referred them to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office for review.'
