Mayo FC set to be established

THE Mayo Football League (MFL) is set to form a full League of Ireland club for the first time in its history.
The Mayo News understands that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has formally granted approval for formation of Mayo FC for the 2023/2024 season.
The launch of the newly-formed team will take place on Monday next, June 26, at a press conference hosted by the Mayo League in Breaffy House Hotel.
A source familiar with the matter said that the MFL and the FAI has formally agreed a five-year plan that could see an adult team competing in the League of Ireland by as early as 2026.
The first year of the plan will see Mayo FC enter an Under-14 and Under-15 boys’ team for the 2024 season, as well as an Under-17 girls’ team.
In 2025 the league plans to enter Under-14, Under-15 and Under-17 boys’ teams into the League of Ireland.
It aims to field an Under-19 boys team by 2026 and have an adult team competing in the League of Ireland by as early as that same year.
One well-placed source told The Mayo News that ‘very good coaches have agreed in principal’ to manage the Under-14, Under-15 and Under-19 boys squads.
Another source close to the newly established Mayo Under-21 team has said the new development squad will not be affected by the move.
The Mayo News understands that negotiations have been ongoing between the FAI and the Mayo Football League for several months regarding this development.
Mayo Football League officials have also met with representatives from Kerry FC, who established a full League of Ireland club last year.
It is also understood that the league has established a separate sub-committee to oversee one of the biggest developments in this history of Mayo soccer.
The news marks a major step forward for underage soccer in the county, where young players have had to travel to Sligo Rovers and Galway United to compete at a higher level for many years.
Mayo teams have previously entered teams at League of Ireland level at Under-14 and Under-15 level before the squads were controversially withdrawn.
Mayo Schoolboys/Girls League officials claimed that they would have had to form a club to continue entering League of Ireland underage squads.
The FAI are to create a third tier for the for the upcoming League of Ireland season, in which an adult Mayo FC team could potentially compete in their first year.
“It’s a better launching pad for a young Mayo League of Ireland team, rather than being thrown in at the deep end and being hockeyed every week,” said a source.