Gary Rogers talks about new role

INTERVIEW

Bohermeen man Gary Rogers this month has embarked on a new career path that will have a positive impact on the League of Ireland and young players emerging through the under-age leagues nationally and around the country.

Rogers has signed up with Gestifute, a company founded by soccer agent Jorge Mendes who represents the likes of Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and a host of other high-profile names.

Gestifute provides consultancy and marketing services to professional sportspeople and sporting organisations and has an Irish office in Dublin where the head man is Andy Quinn, who is also living in Meath.

Rogers has a wealth of knowledge about the game here from the top level at the League of Ireland down through the under-age and regional leagues and organisations.

There is a rich vein of talent coming through the League of Ireland and since Brexit there are new restrictions on players under-18 following what was once the traditional route to UK clubs although movement throughout the EU is not as severely impacted.

The 2015 Meath Sportsperson of the Year retired from a 21-year League of Ireland career last December playing his final game for Dundalk in the Europa League against Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium.

That paved the way for a time-out ahead of Christmas that was totally family-focused with no immediate concerns about a resumption of pre-season training for the 2021 League of Ireland season.

"With lockdown there wasn't too much to do, but it was an interesting few months and there were a few offers that I was considering without having to worry about training and football out on the pitch.

"I was contacted by Gestifute to see if I would be interested in coming on board with a focus on players in Ireland.

"Ideally, they would have preferred if I could have shadowed one of their men in Portugal to get a feel for what they required.

"The Covid-19 restrictions meant that something like that wasn't possible which meant that it was a case of getting the ball rolling here with the new season in the League of Ireland on the horizon.

"Once the restrictions ease and things get back to some sort of normality there will be a requirement to travel, but I will also be attending tournaments like the European u-15 and u-17 championships when I can meet the other people involved.

"The role of the football scout has evolved and it's a more acceptable and professional part of the game now across Europe.

"My job will be to source and identify the talent that's in the League of Ireland and in the other under-age leagues around the country.

"It's actually a very interesting role, it's football and I know the landscape, I've played at the highest level here for some 20 years and I've been involved in the players's union for more than a decade.

"On top of all that I have a sports management degree and all that was in my favour when Gestifute were looking for someone to take on this particular role in Ireland," he added.

Last week the League of Ireland was ridiculed in some quarters over the fact that the return to action of the GAA inter-county season was put on hold as the elite status was withdrawn by the Government.

This is an area where Rogers would hold some very strong opinions about the value of the League of Ireland and the elite status that, in his view, it rightly commands.

"I know the League of Ireland is always looked on as the poor relation in sporting terms in this country, but all you have to do is look at the talent that has come out of it and will continue to come out of it," he stated.

"Players like Kevin Doyle, Kevin Long, James McClean, David Forde, Seamus Coleman - that's just a few of the better known players who have come through League of Ireland clubs.

"The League of Ireland doesn't get its fair share of credit, it regularly gets knocked, but when people actually go to games they are often surprised by the standard of football.

"In recent years we've had teams competing in the group phase of the Europa League.

"When you compare the budgets of the Irish teams to the budgets of the teams they were up against, it's only then that you realise just what an achievement it is by the League of Ireland teams.

"Unfortunately our league was targeted again in the last few weeks with this elite tag questioned in relation to the GAA inter-county games that were put on hold.

"The bottom line, for many League of Ireland players it is their liveliehood, it is a professional sport whether some people like it or not.

"The one thing that must be remembered is that it's very difficult to make the grade in professional sport.

"Speaking from my own experience with Dundalk, we played Arsenal in the Europa League only last December, you can't get much more elite than that.

"We had to win the League of Ireland to get that opportunity.

"I know the GAA is great and does wonderful things in the community, but the GAA players are amateurs.

"They perform to a professional standard, I don't dispute that, but they are not relying on it for an income on a weekly or monthly basis.

"The GAA is rightly proud of its amateur ethos, I'm sure things will change fairly quickly as it's a situation that's evolving all the time," he added.

Looking to the immediate future, the Bohermeen man stressed that this new role is a long-term project.

"My role with Gestifute is viewed as a long-term project, we should be able to review everything inside the next six months, but it will be about developing the talent that's here in Ireland," he stressed.

"For the moment I'm able to work from home and once the football starts I'll be in a position to go to games, it's a bit of a mixed bag at the moment.

"From my perspective this is an excellent opportunity, it's what I know, it's a follow-on from what I've been doing for the last 20 years.

"The League of Ireland clubs are bringing young players through their academy systems.

"The players are better off in the League of Ireland playing senior football instead of u-18 or u-23 academy football in the UK where there is nothing really at stake.

"Here they will be playing men's football where the results will be significant and that sort of environment is hugely beneficial for a young player.

“I’m delighted to get this chance, I think it will suit my skillset and I’m looking forward to the challenge," concluded the Bohermeen man.