James Toner appointed Mens Academy Manager | OneFootball

The appointment of the highly regarded young coach marks another development in the club’s ongoing commitment to nurturing elite football talent.

Toner’s new role forms part of a broader academy restructure, which also sees Gemma Murphy taking on the role of Women’s Academy Manager with Colm Barron overseeing all sides under the remit of Academy Director.

James joins Shelbourne FC following an impressive tenure in Australia, where he served as Head Coach of Perth Glory’s U18 and U20 squads on a full-time basis.

Under his leadership, Perth Glory secured the prestigious National Premier League Championship. Prior to his time in Australia, James gained valuable experience with Seattle Celtic in a full-time coaching capacity.

Upon returning to Ireland, he continued his coaching journey with DB Sports and contributed to the success of Dundalk FC’s underage teams in the EA Sports League of Ireland academy.

Toner holds a UEFA Elite A Licence and an honours degree in Sports Management and Coaching, he brings a wealth of knowledge, a strong coaching philosophy, and a proven track record in player development.

James Toner, Shelbourne FC’s Men’s Academy Manager said: “Shelbourne FC is a massive club with a rich history, so to be taking on a role at the club during such a successful period is a great honour.

“I have been fortunate enough to have gained valuable experience working with top level players and coaches whilst in the USA and most recently at Perth Glory FC in Australia. However, the opportunity to come home and work with some of Ireland’s best talent within such an ambitious club was a call I couldn’t turn down.

“Colm and Luke have been clear on the aim at the club which is to become the best performing academy in Irish football, developing future talent for our first team and beyond. This directly aligns with my passion as a coach for working on the pitch to develop and improve both players and coaches.

I couldn’t be more excited to get started and aim to hit the ground running.”

Colm Barron, Shelbourne FC’s Academy Director, commented on the appointment: “The appointment of James as Men’s Academy Manager is a very exciting step forward for the club and specifically the Academy. After discussing the rationale and benefits behind the structural change with Luke and the board, I knew James was the person we wanted in the role.

“The qualities James possesses are in line with the culture we want to create throughout the club. He has a high level of footballing experience in his young career. We place the development of our players and coaches at the centre of what we are trying to do here, and I know what he can deliver on the pitch. Our ambition is to be the best, and the appointment of James allows us to move closer toward this.”

Luke Byrne, speaking on the new structure, added: “We are delighted to welcome James to the club as Men’s Academy Manager. He has extensive experience in the game, both domestically and internationally, making his appointment a real coup for Shelbourne Football Club.

“Beyond his wide-ranging skill set, James embodies the type of person we want in our academy, someone with a genuine hunger and desire to continuously improve himself and the players around him. The appointment of James, alongside Gemma as Women’s Academy Manager, is another step toward realising our vision for the academy. Our goal is to establish the best-performing academy in Irish football.

“Achieving this requires strong organisational structures and, crucially, the right people within them. We are confident that our academy will continue to thrive and set new standards.”