An innovative joint venture between Larkin Community College and Shelbourne Football Club aims to help talented young footballers combine their formal education with training for a later career in professional football. The programme kicks off this September with Larkin College providing the footballers' educational programme to Junior or Leaving Cert and Shelbourne supplying training.

Recent legislation aims to restrict the movement of young footballers from one jurisdiction to another, threatening the tradition of Irish soccer talent being spirited to the the training grounds of Britain. This new venture will in future give talented youngsters the chance to reach their football potential at home - as well as getting themselves a full and formal education for life. Noel O'Brien, principal of Larkin Community College, says the process of "identifying talented young people currently playing" is under way:

"Shelbourne spoke with all the schoolboy league teams in Dublin and got their co-operation. They'll be directing talented boys to the programme, which will allow them pursue the technical skills and training they need while getting a full-time education.

"It will give them choices too, about whether to go for a career in professional football or go on to college. The programme will involve training, physiology, nutrition, homework.

"Everything, including them having had a meal, will be over by 7.30 p.m. each evening," says O'Brien, "which will leave them free for TV watching or family time or whatever."

Larkin College, which moved to a new, fully equipped building on Champions Avenue, Dublin, less than a year ago, would seem to have the ideal address for aspiring Roy Keanes. It's phone number too has an apposite ring to it - for further details you'll get them at (01) 874 1913.