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The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jim Crawford is ‘sickened' by horrific LOI racism incident which shouldn't happen in this ‘new age, new Ireland'
IRELAND Under-21 boss Jim Crawford wants a zero-tolerance approach to racism — but insisted that any punishment must include education. Crawford has previously spoken out about racism in Ireland and called on 2 Jim Crawford has been an anti-racism advocate for a number of years 2 Victor Ozhianvuna suffered racist abuse on Shamrock Rovers' visit to Waterford FC But there continue to be football-related incidents, including when Crawford's team In the past two months, the FAI has reported racist incidents during the Ireland Just last week Shamrock Rovers' Victor Ozhianvuna was Crawford is sickened by the cases and hopes the culprits are punished severely. More on Irish football The former Shelbourne midfielder said: 'I think it is s**t. It's something I feel extremely strong about. 'Whoever made those comments to Ozhianvuna should be caught, reprimanded, barred from every club and put on an education programme. 'This is a new age, a new Ireland — get used to it. 'It's something that shouldn't happen, but it's going to happen. You've got uneducated people, naive people . . . Most read in Football 'But if there is anything I could do to help sort of promote new Ireland, I'd do it. I believe in it, there is absolutely no room for racism. 'Unfortunately it will always exist, you'll have those outliers, ignorant people. 'You can't make this up' - Irish fans in stitches at Ruesha Littlejohn's playful prank upon Katie McCabe's camp arrival 'Whatever punishment the person in Waterford gets, I'll be right behind it because they deserve it. 'But it also must come with education. I'm sure if you look at the people who do it, they are uneducated.'
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jim Crawford seeking 'real north star' on Republic of Ireland's horizon
The back end of the Sport Ireland campus, where the FAI HQ stands, had a tranquil feel to it in the afternoon heat on Wednesday. While the blazing sun was responsible for the heightened temperature, earlier in the day, the road towards Euro 2028 had been simmering that wee bit more. While there's an entire World Cup campaign and Nations League to come between now and then, UEFA did confirm the qualification structure and the potential fate that awaits the Republic of Ireland senior team as one of the co-hosts alongside England, Scotland and Wales. The good news was that two spots at the finals tournament will be reserved for the two best-ranked host nations who don't qualify automatically. So no guarantee for the Boys in Green but the door is that bit more ajar. So it was with that backdrop that RTÉ Sport encountered Ireland Under-21 manager Jim Crawford within the FAI's press conference room with the squad he has named for next month's friendlies against Croatia and Qatar's Under-23s listed on the big screen behind him. It's an intriguing 24-man selection with a significant presence of players either produced by or still playing in the League of Ireland, including teenagers like Mason Melia and Cathal O'Sullivan who are well ahead of schedule in their nascent careers. And after near misses for in the last two Euro qualifying campaigns, Crawford is hopeful that his new crop can not only make the difference when the road towards the U21 Euros in 2027 begins in earnest from September but that the best of the bunch could have major tournament experience under their belt before 2028 when hopes are that they could graduate into a senior team that will hopefully be having a busy summer the following year. "I think that's the ultimate experience, qualifying for the European finals at 21s level and why would you say that? It's the stage that you're playing on, it's the amount of eyes that are on you from different leagues, (it) would be fantastic for the players to rub shoulders with top European players in such a stage (and) would be great for the players to learn," Crawford said. "So that to me is the experience that we're going after and I've no doubt about it, if we got to the finals and players performed well, it would certainly sky-rocket their careers wherever that is, whether Heimir takes them in for the next international window or they get a move from their current club. "But I think the possibilities would be endless for the players and first and foremost that's what we're after as a group is that the players enjoy the experience and get the most out of it. "But second to that is you stay competitive in your group to the very end and that's what we have been doing. But the real north star is to qualify for the finals." Crawford has taken particular pride in seeing some of the Under-21s he has capped getting drafted into Heimir Hallgrimsson's recent squads, with two more cabs off the rank for the seniors' June friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg. "You've got Josh Keeley invovled in a League One play-off in Wembley Stadium (which is) brilliant and then you've got Killian Phillips... what a story that is," said Crawford fondly. "It's an amazing story where the first time I met Killian was in the FAI transition year course down in Corduff and he showed a real desire and passion for his football and then next thing I knew we were bringing him into the Under-21s and he never let us down." Phillips, who spent the season on loan at St Mirren from Crystal Palace, started out in the LOI with Drogheda United and his pathway is the most common one within the squad Crawford has named. While St Patrick's Athletic striker Melia will be linking up with Tottenham Hotspur in January after his big-money move, Cork City's O'Sullivan is being tipped to join Crystal Palace. The 18-year-old would be doing so with plenty of men's football experience in his legs given the Brexit rules have precluded a move to the UK at a younger age. And O'Sullivan's exploits mean that Crawford has no hesitation moving him up from the U19s. "Back when he was playing in the First Division, I was saying, 'OK that's great, can he now do it moving up a league into our top league?' And he has. I think he's been excellent and I'm looking forward to working with him," he said. "I haven't met him yet but I believe he's a great character and that's what we want, who we want as a group. "I know we have 24 players for this window. We want 24 players with strong characters that will do anything they possibly can to stay in this squad because, look, we had a big provisional list for this window and we had players who were also in the Premier Division, the First Division and all over Europe that haven't made it and I'm sure they're disappointed but it's about coming into camp in June, working hard and showing people how good you are as a player." Ireland will face England, Slovakia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Andorra in the qualifiers and having taken on Scotland and Hungary in March friendlies, Crawford is hopeful that Croatia and Qatar can give his Boys in a Green another throrough examination in Zagreb on 6 and 10 June respectively. "They're the games you want. You want to be challenged. There's no point going and playing games against pot five or pot six teams where it becomes a little bit false and easy for players," he said. "Croatia first and foremost will be a real challenge to the players and it's one I'm looking forward to and I hope that the 24 players selected are looking forward to it and I've absolutely no doubt that they will."
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland U21 boss makes Government plea on Academy funding
Jim Crawford believes the potential is there to turn Irish football into a powerhouse of player production - once the funding is there to invest into academies nationwide. The Ireland Under-21 boss yesterday named his squad for the June friendlies against Croatia and Qatar in Zagreb, and included were 16 players that currently play or have played in the League of Ireland or the EA SPORTS LOI Academy. Up to now, however, investment has been piecemeal, and has mostly come from private coffers, as opposed to the state purse. Crawford's former club Shelbourne yesterday announced a major development in their academy structure when they secured an 18-year lease at the AUL Complex in north Dublin. The deal will see major redevelopment work undertaken, including four state-of-the-art pitches, the construction of a new all-weather pitch, and the addition of multi purpose meeting spaces for homework for young players, team meetings, analysis sessions, and coach education workshops. The money for the project will come from a €500,000 grant from the Community Sport Facilities Fund, along with investment from the League of Ireland champions' shareholders. Speaking to MirrorSport, Crawford hailed the work being done around the country - and said that structured investment in clubs nationwide would transform the fortunes of the game here. 'That's what we need - investment. There are no two ways about it,' he said. 'There has got to be investment and there has got to be a plan at each club when money becomes available. 'I'm sure if the Government are going to give money to clubs that there has to be an audit to say here's where the money went and here's the by-product of that. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'I've got to give full credit to League of Ireland clubs and academies, they are working exceptionally hard around the clock to develop players. 'I have certainly seen them in action and they work exceptionally hard, and that's brilliant. 'But could you imagine how successful we could be in developing players if we had the resources? ' What I mean by that is, if you have the resources, you can create an industry here. 'Whereas now you have got good coaches with these players, working with them, (you could give) them more contact time. And It has got to be quality contact time. 'I know it has been up for debate before - you'll hear stories of coaches and technical directors from different countries saying, we've got x amount of contact hours with the players, but how many of them are quality contact hours? 'I think we have shown that with limited resources that if we had more time with the players, we would certainly have a different product, if we could create an industry. 'You are just hoping that the Government will row in and give us that investment that we need to help our players reach their potential.' The League of Ireland is playing an increasingly important role in the national team at all levels, as evidenced by Crawford's latest squad. Mason Melia, the Tottenham-bound St Patrick's Athletic striker, became Ireland's youngest ever goalscorer at Under-21 level during the last window. His move to north London next January will break the League of Ireland transfer record - and Pat's will likely earn much more than the initial €1.9m fee agreed with Spurs. Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan is wanted by a host of Premier League sides. He also gets his first call at this level, as does 20-year-old Drogheda United forward Warren Davis, who has already scored six goals this season. Shamrock Rovers' 19-year-old defender Cory O'Sullivan, another first-time call-up, has already played 13 times in the Premier Division this season. He also featured in Rovers' historic Europa Conference League tie with Molde in February. Crawford believes the likes of Melia, Davis, the two O'Sullivans, Sean Grehan - on-loan at Bohemians from Crystal Palace - and Sligo Rovers' Jad Hakiki are all in a good place right now. 'I think (the League of Ireland) is excellent for their development, playing these games,' he said. 'It's a great environment for you to develop in terms of big games, something at stake. 'Some of the players here have played in Europe and that is only going to help their development even further. 'But because it's a performance space, you can't neglect the development side of the player. 'Somebody like Mason, and I'm only using Mason as an example because I do know that Mason gets exceptionally well looked after from a coaching perspective at St Pat's, sometimes when you are in that performance space, you have got to win, win, win, and the development piece is put on the backseat. 'But if you have got a good coaching team who understands player development, okay, you have got performance space, but let's work with this player, whether it's in a classroom where you are going through clips of, how can we make this player better, how can we make him reach his ceiling, that has got to be incorporated into a club programme. 'I have no doubt it is at Rovers, Cork, Drogheda, Pat's, Bohs, and I do know that because I talk to players and coaches.' Those coaches, and those working in academies around the country, just need financial backing. 'The clubs have done unbelievable work,' Crawford said. 'If they were given that financial support and assistance, where could we go next? 'We have got some excellent coaches in our system here who can only go and help players even more. 'You'd like to think that clubs have got their house in order with regards to administrators, so if the money comes in it can be used wisely. I think there is real potential here in this country.'
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘It does make me proud' – Jim Crawford on helping Irish football's young guns develop for the future
As Jim Crawford sits back in the FAI's press conference room, the two TV screens behind him are showing the Ireland U-21 squad he announced yesterday morning ahead of the June double-header against Croatia and Qatar, the group's last camp before Euro 2027 qualifying kicks off in September.
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Man United Under-18 captain among newcomers called up to Ireland Under-21s squad by Jim Crawford for summer friendlies
MANCHESTER UNITED Under-18 captain Jacob Devaney has been called into the Ireland Under-21 squad for the first time for summer meetings with Croatia and Qatar. Yorkshire born midfielder Devaney - the son of former Barnsley star and Ireland youth striker Martin - is highly-rated at Old Trafford and has previously been in Irish Under-19 squads. But he is called up by Jim Crawford for the meetings with the Croat Under-21s and an Under-23 Qatar team as part of an experimental squad with a view towards the Euro 2027 qualifiers. Also included for the first time are Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan, Shamrock Rovers' Cory O'Sullivan, and Drogheda United's Warren Davis. Crawford said: 'This is a young squad, we've nine players still in their teens but the majority of those nine are playing first team football or around the first-team environment. 'It's important we look at all options available to us, to put us in the best shape come September.' Read More On Irish Football Ireland kick off their Euro qualifying campaign away to Moldova on September 4 before a home clash with Andorra, with England and Slovakia also in the group. Ireland squad: Barrett (Sheffield Wednesday), Jauny (Brest), Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Wogan (Andrew Wogan), Curtis (Sheffield United), Grehan (Bohemians), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Cory O'Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Okagbue (Walsall), Otegbayo (Sheffield Wednesday), Slater (Brighton), Devaney (Manchester United), Lipsiuc (Walsall), Moorhouse (Manchester United), Mullin (Brighton), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Southampton), Cathal O'Sullivan (Cork City), Vaughan (Hull City), Davis (Drogheda United), Gardner (Nottingham Forest), Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Melia (St Patrick's Athletic), O'Mahony (Brighton). 1 Jim Crawford has named his Ireland U21s squad for the two upcoming games Shocking moment punches thrown as brawl erupts between Man Utd & Spurs fans in Spain ahead of Europa League final
