Latest news with #StuartDallas
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'International football gives belief you belong in Premier League'
Former Northern Ireland and Leeds United wide man Stuart Dallas is part of BBC Sport NI's coverage of Tuesday's friendly with Iceland. Reaching the Premier League is a dream for any player. I know how Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard feel after they won promotion with Sunderland, it's an incredible feeling and achieving it with Leeds was one of the highlights of my career. Advertisement It's a big step up from the Championship, not only on the pitch but with everything that comes with it. There's more spotlight and every game you play is a big event that is shown all over the world. It's literally a different ball game. On the pitch, you can see the difference between the top two divisions by how the promoted teams have struggled to bridge the gap after going up, but Trai and Daniel are more than capable of adapting and they've shown it at international level. That's always what gave me the belief I could perform well in the Premier League. I wasn't playing all the time with my club, but with Northern Ireland I was playing against some of the best players in the world and I always felt I held my own. Advertisement Taking on some of the best players from Germany or the Netherlands, it only added to the belief that I belonged at that level, and I'm sure Trai and Daniel will feel the same. You could say the same for Conor Bradley at Liverpool and Justin Devenny at Crystal Palace too, as they were both playing international football before playing week in, week out for their clubs. It's great for belief, and having more players at the top level can only benefit the national team as a whole. 'Playing for Northern Ireland gave me the belief I belonged in the Premier League' [Getty Images] I can relate a lot to Trai's journey to the Premier League. Like me, he started off in the Irish League and had a lot of senior games under his belt before he moved across to England. Advertisement I had played between 150 and 200 games of senior football for Coagh United and Crusaders, and I can't speak enough about how much that prepares you to step up to professional football in England. I still had a lot of developing to do when I moved to Brentford, but it set me up so well. You can be in an academy in England from the age of eight, and in a pre-academy even younger. I look at some players who haven't played a senior game by the age of 20 or 21 because they are stuck in youth football, and when they get their chance they struggle to adapt because it's hard to bridge that gap. I look back at my career now and I wouldn't have done it any other way, and I can see that Trai is reaping the rewards of that too. 'It's a new era for Northern Ireland' While the result in Denmark was disappointing, there are still positives to take from the game. Denmark deserved to win, and they are a level above where Northern Ireland currently are. Advertisement But it is where Michael O'Neill wants his team to be, and it was another good learning experience for his young squad. Defensively, particularly in the first half, they were very good against a strong and creative attack but they will want to improve going forward. They needed to be more brave on the ball. They made a great start with the goal but didn't really threaten after scoring, and I'm sure that will have disappointed Michael. In that regard, I think Iceland in the perfect game to follow it up on Tuesday. As the home team, the onus is on you to take it to the opposition and play with the energy and desire to win the game. The crowd will play a role in that too, and we know how important Windsor Park can be. I know Michael likes to play with a back three, but I think he will set the team up a little bit different to get his key players on the ball to try and make something happen. Advertisement Iceland got a fantastic result in Scotland but they aren't of the same calibre as Denmark. They are probably in and around where Northern Ireland are and that presents an opportunity to be more of a goal threat. It's a new era for Northern Ireland, and that is highlighted by the fact that George Saville was the only player in the 26-strong squad over the age of 30. Paddy McNair would have been in there too if he wasn't injured, but it just shows how young this team are. The Iceland game is the final chance to prepare for World Cup qualifying in September, and it's hard because these players are effectively learning on the job. The only way to prepare for big games is to keep playing strong teams and learn from any mistakes. Advertisement There aren't any shortcuts in international football, and that is why Michael is keen to take on higher-level friendlies. The leadership group in the squad is young, but I'm seeing good qualities on the pitch. The turnaround for Tuesday will be a big test for them, but it's a great opportunity to end the camp on a high and take some momentum into World Cup qualifying. Stuart Dallas was speaking to BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray. Watch Northern Ireland v Iceland on Tuesday, 10 June at 19:30 BST on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI; listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster and follow live text and in-play clips on BBC Sport website and app.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'International football gives belief you belong in Premier League'
Former Northern Ireland and Leeds United wide man Stuart Dallas is part of BBC Sport NI's coverage of Tuesday's friendly with the Premier League is a dream for any player.I know how Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard feel after they won promotion with Sunderland, it's an incredible feeling and achieving it with Leeds was one of the highlights of my a big step up from the Championship, not only on the pitch but with everything that comes with it. There's more spotlight and every game you play is a big event that is shown all over the world. It's literally a different ball the pitch, you can see the difference between the top two divisions by how the promoted teams have struggled to bridge the gap after going up, but Trai and Daniel are more than capable of adapting and they've shown it at international level. That's always what gave me the belief I could perform well in the Premier League. I wasn't playing all the time with my club, but with Northern Ireland I was playing against some of the best players in the world and I always felt I held my on some of the best players from Germany or the Netherlands, it only added to the belief that I belonged at that level, and I'm sure Trai and Daniel will feel the could say the same for Conor Bradley at Liverpool and Justin Devenny at Crystal Palace too, as they were both playing international football before playing week in, week out for their great for belief, and having more players at the top level can only benefit the national team as a whole. I can relate a lot to Trai's journey to the Premier League. Like me, he started off in the Irish League and had a lot of senior games under his belt before he moved across to England.I had played between 150 and 200 games of senior football for Coagh United and Crusaders, and I can't speak enough about how much that prepares you to step up to professional football in England. I still had a lot of developing to do when I moved to Brentford, but it set me up so can be in an academy in England from the age of eight, and in a pre-academy even younger. I look at some players who haven't played a senior game by the age of 20 or 21 because they are stuck in youth football, and when they get their chance they struggle to adapt because it's hard to bridge that gap.I look back at my career now and I wouldn't have done it any other way, and I can see that Trai is reaping the rewards of that too. 'It's a new era for Northern Ireland' While the result in Denmark was disappointing, there are still positives to take from the game. Denmark deserved to win, and they are a level above where Northern Ireland currently it is where Michael O'Neill wants his team to be, and it was another good learning experience for his young particularly in the first half, they were very good against a strong and creative attack but they will want to improve going forward. They needed to be more brave on the ball. They made a great start with the goal but didn't really threaten after scoring, and I'm sure that will have disappointed that regard, I think Iceland in the perfect game to follow it up on Tuesday. As the home team, the onus is on you to take it to the opposition and play with the energy and desire to win the game. The crowd will play a role in that too, and we know how important Windsor Park can be.I know Michael likes to play with a back three, but I think he will set the team up a little bit different to get his key players on the ball to try and make something got a fantastic result in Scotland but they aren't of the same calibre as Denmark. They are probably in and around where Northern Ireland are and that presents an opportunity to be more of a goal threat. It's a new era for Northern Ireland, and that is highlighted by the fact that George Saville was the only player in the 26-strong squad over the age of 30. Paddy McNair would have been in there too if he wasn't injured, but it just shows how young this team Iceland game is the final chance to prepare for World Cup qualifying in September, and it's hard because these players are effectively learning on the job. The only way to prepare for big games is to keep playing strong teams and learn from any aren't any shortcuts in international football, and that is why Michael is keen to take on higher-level friendlies. The leadership group in the squad is young, but I'm seeing good qualities on the pitch. The turnaround for Tuesday will be a big test for them, but it's a great opportunity to end the camp on a high and take some momentum into World Cup qualifying. Stuart Dallas was speaking to BBC Sport NI's Andy Northern Ireland v Iceland on Tuesday, 10 June at 19:30 BST on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI; listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster and follow live text and in-play clips on BBC Sport website and app.
Belfast Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Stuart Dallas: I knew young Northern Ireland ace was destined for top the first time I saw him
Stuart Dallas says Justin Devenny was the standout player for Northern Ireland's Under-21s when he shadowed Tommy Wright in 2024. The 21-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game since leaving Airdrie in 2023, culminating in 2025 in a place on the bench in the victorious FA Cup Final for Crystal Palace.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Former Leeds United player Stuart Dallas backs CPR campaign
Former Leeds United player Stuart Dallas has urged football fans to learn life-saving CPR skills as part of a national campaign. Dallas, whose mother died after a heart attack when he was aged 10, said it was "crucial" for people to know the technique as "you never know when you might need it". A campaign led by the British Heart Foundation and Sky Bet is promoting a 15-minute video teaching people the skills they need to try to revive someone's heartbeat. On Wednesday, the retired midfielder took part in one leg of a 28-day relay bike ride stretching across all 72 grounds in the English Football League to promote the message. The ride took the 33-year-old from Leeds United's Elland Road ground to Harrogate Town's Exercise who played for Leeds for nine years, said: "For 15 minutes of your time you could potentially save someone's life, it's nothing out of your day."It's really crucial people learn it - it could be your best friend you're with who needs CPR, or it could be a football fan you're sat beside at a game who's a complete stranger." Learning CPR using the interactive video tool only requires a smartphone and a cushion to practice chest compressions United supporter Conor Houton, 29, is also backing the campaign. Mr Houton's father, Donny, died in 2019 after a cardiac arrest, despite the efforts of his family and paramedics to save him. "It was a real life-changing event and it turned my life upside down for so long," he said. He continued: "You have to deal with a lot of trauma and a big part of getting involved with this is trying to deal with that and to try to help other people who might have to go through that in the future."It's been really important for me to learn CPR and, God forbid, if I find myself in that situation again I'll be able to act quickly." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Davis & Dallas to be inducted into NI Hall of Fame
Former Northern Ireland stars Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas will be inducted into the Malcolm Brodie Northern Ireland Hall of Fame in pair will receive the honour at the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association's annual award ceremony on 4 who played for Aston Villa and Rangers, won a record-breaking 140 caps for Northern Ireland and captained the team at the Euro 2016 finals."It's an incredible honour to be inducted into the Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame alongside genuine greats such as George Best and Harry Gregg," said Davis."It was always a privilege to represent my country and the people of Northern Ireland. To receive an accolade like this is incredible."Ex-Leeds United winger Dallas picked up 62 international caps for his is no stranger to the NIFWA Awards - he was named Player and Young Player of the Year in 2011. "I have fond memories of winning Player of the Year during my time with Crusaders," said Dalls."It's an honour to return to the awards all these years later, to join the Hall of Fame."The Hall of Fame honour celebrates legendary journalist Brodie's involvement in Northern Ireland football which included covering 14 World Cup tournaments before his death in 2013 at the age of 86.
