Noel Coughlan loving his new role at his beloved Leeds

Noel Coughlan has given a lot of his time coaching at the Leeds club which is based in the heart of the northside for over a decade.

And in recent years, he has managed two different teams, organised trips abroad, and also organises a tournament every year for Aid Cancer Treatment Charity.

He is certainly a busy man, on and off the pitch.

Coughlan started playing soccer relatively late, joining Leeds as a youth player and they enjoyed some success during his time there by winning the club’s first-ever U17 Youth League, and finishing runners-up in the U18 Murphy Cup.

Leeds then formed its first adult junior soccer team, with several players from that successful youth side in it and some older players, with Coughlan himself one of those older players making up a large part of the squad.

After a couple of seasons with the juniors, he moved to AUL football with Glenvale FC, a Blackpool-based team that has since folded.

When Noel finished playing he never thought he would get involved in coaching until James Fogarty, the Academy Director asked him to get involved and the rest as they say is history.

“At no point did I ever imagine myself coaching a team at any level. However, like many parents, you can find yourself getting involved in football when you least expect it,” Noel said.

“Around 10 years ago, Academy Director James Fogarty asked if I would help out with my son Evan’s team as they moved into the schoolboy years.

That was really the beginning of a fantastic journey involving players, coaches, parents and a club with a genuine family feel.

“Philip Moore and Paul Gardiner came on board to take over the coaching of the team, allowing me to focus on managing the group.”

In June 2018, Noel started the Northside Invitational Cup, with the aim of bringing together some of the friends he had made through football at other clubs. Covid-19 unfortunately intervened, but the tournament was relaunched again in 2023.

“On its return, I took the opportunity to align it with ACT (Aid Cancer Treatment), with players and clubs making a small donation to remember family members and friends we had lost to cancer, including club legend the late Michael Hourihan.

“The tournament has continued to be a fantastic occasion, bringing clubs and players together while also providing an opportunity to remember those who have had such an impact on our lives.

“The Easter school holidays also provided an opportunity to take the boys abroad for football trips so Coughlan started with the Manchester Cup in 2019, travelling with an U15 team.

“Our first trip any was the Manchester Cup and that was followed by three more fantastic trips to Salou over the years.

“Every trip was a great success, creating memories for the kids and parents that went far beyond what happened on the football pitch.

“For years I was also very fortunate to become involved with a second team at Leeds.

“They had an excellent coach in Junior Kavanagh, but the team had been unlucky during their first two seasons.

“Gary Lane then joined us, and what followed was a hugely impressive period of development, both individually and as a team.

“It is hard for me to choose one particular moment in football that I would rank as my favourite or best.

“The U14 league play-off win is hard to beat because of the sheer honesty and character of that team. However, promotion for Evan’s U15 team and the league and cup double at U17 level come very close.”

Special journey

Watching players grow in confidence, develop their ability and eventually progress towards junior and senior football is something that gives Noel a huge sense of pride and joy.

“The trophies and results are fantastic, but they are only part of the story.

The friendships made, the experiences shared and seeing young people develop along the way are what really stay with you.

“Throughout the years, the club has always supported the teams I have been involved with and the various projects I have taken on.

“That support has meant a great deal to me and has made many of these experiences possible.

“This season has brought another new chapter in my football journey, as I have taken my first steps into adult football.

“Along with Gary we have restarted the Leeds junior team, while also taking on the role of managing the club’s U19 team in the Cork Youth League is another challenge and without doubt, a different environment from working with the younger age groups.

“There will be plenty of challenges ahead, but that is exactly what makes football so enjoyable, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Coughlan added.