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Player Profile 8. Alan Wall - Midfielder

18/11/2014

Alan 'Did you see my goal at the Aviva' Wall

Alan joined the IAFA squad in late 2012. He, like Garry, made his debut against Great Britain in Limerick in 2013. Technically gifted, energetic, enthusiastic and shockingly quick, Alan has been an incredible addition to the team. Alan scored a pretty impressive goal against a select 7 at the Aviva stadium during an exhibition match played at half-time in the FAI Junior Cup Final 2014. It's been all over the internet, Facebook and Twitter, and Alan has shown it to everyone he's met since but just in case you've been hiding under a rock and haven't seen it... Here it is... for the very first time on the IAFA website. Enjoy!

Post by Josh Amputee World Cup Mexico.

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Player Profile 7. Garry Hoey - Midfielder

17/11/2014

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Garry 'I'm from Dundalk Hi' Hoey

Garry joined the IAFA in late 2012. He made his International debut against Great Britain in Limerick the following year. Garry has added some real footballing intelligence to the side's midfield. An accomplished holding midfielder Garry works tirelessly in the teams engine room, breaking up play and setting attacking moves in motion. The midfield general, Roy Keane type player (minus the beard) of the IAFA squad, Garry is a natural leader and is a vital cog in the way the team play. Garry can't wait to face up to some of the best midfielders in our game in Mexico in the weeks to come.

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Player Profile 6. Mandy King - Attacker

16/11/2014

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Mandy 'Don't Mollycoddle Me!' King

Mandy may be the only woman on the IAFA's International squad but she is, without doubt, the most improved player this season. Mandy has been involved with the IAFA since 2011 and has made appearances in the green shirt in Poland, England and at home here in Ireland. In the past year Mandy has completed an intensive and comprehensive coaching course with the FAI. Mandy is the head-coach and co-ordinator of the IAFA's Junior side and is whipping our young amputees into shape preparing them to make the transition to the Senior squad in the coming years. Much loved by her teammates, the IAFA squad would not be complete without Mandy. Mandy is immensely proud to be part of the IAFA's International squad and can't wait for the challenge that lies ahead in Mexico.

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Player Profile 5. David Saunders - Defender

15/11/2014

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David 'Dream Team' Saunders

David joined the IAFA in 2011 and has featured in all of the team's fixtures to date. This Kerry native captained the squad at the inaugural Amp Futbol Cup in Warsaw, Poland, in 2012. David has embraced the preparations for this years World Cup, dedicating hours upon hours to training and displaying a real desire to improve. An imposing defender David is physically strong, quick and sharp, and is capable of marauding runs into the opponents half. A school-teacher by trade he can be heard barking instructions on the pitch at the strikers and midfielders in front of him... we pity his pupils! David is so committed to the IAFA that he is leaving his blushing bride-to-be Anne Marie ALONE to organise the final preparations for their December wedding while he flies to Mexico for the Amputee Football World Cup.

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Player Profile 4. Simon Baker - Defender [Captain]

14/11/2014

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Simon 'Scoop' Baker

Captain fantastic! Simon, along with Christy McElligott and Oisin Jordan, founded the IAFA in 2011 and has led the Association to unimaginable heights over the course of the past 3 years. Passionate, driven and charismatic, Simon's qualities are evident both on and off the football pitch. Courageous, ambitious and energetic, Simon wears the green jersey with immense pride and embodies all that the IAFA represents. An accomplished defender, Simon dreams of one day scoring a goal for the IAFA. Simon has ventured further up the pitch in recent fixtures but has quickly returned to the comfort of the backline complaining of nausea, headaches and nosebleeds when in the opponents half. Simon is looking forward to leading the IAFA squad at the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico and to infinity and beyond in the years to come.

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Player Profile 3. Kevin Cahillane - Defender

13/11/2014

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Kevin 'Butch' Cahillane

Kevin is the IAFA's newest recruit. He joined the squad in January of this year and took to the sport with ease. Kevin is one of the fittest members of the International squad. He is reported to have asked for more bleeps to be added to the bleep test. He was told, however, that there were no more! Kevin made his International debut against Great Britain in July and boasts that no goals were conceded while he was on the pitch. Kerry-man Kevin is looking forward to making many more appearances in the green jersey in the years to come, starting at the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.

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Player Profile 2. Donal Bligh - Defender/Midfielder

12/11/2014

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Donal 'Knockser' Bligh

Ireland's first, last, one and only Sunderland fan.
Think an Irish.. Andrea Pirlo... on crutches and your half way to imaging how cool, calm and collected Donal is on the football pitch. Donal too has appeared in each and every one of the IAFA's International fixtures. An accomplished defender, Donal is equally adept playing in the middle of the park. This Dublin native is a tenacious tackler and can produce quality deliveries into the box from set-plays.

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Player Profile 1. Owen Casey - Goalkeeper

11/11/2014

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Owen 'Don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth' Casey

Owen allegedly lost his arm to a shark when on a fishing expedition off the Atlantic coast of Co. Longford. He joined the IAFA in 2011 and is one of a select group of players who have played in every one of the IAFA's International matches. Owen has saved the IAFA on more than one occasion. He was in inspired form during the Paddy Power Cup in Limerick last August. This IAFA shot-stopper is hoping to add some clean sheets to his already impressive appearance record at the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.

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Road to the World Cup - Training Camp 10

9/11/2014

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The IAFA squad at the Maldron Hotel, Limerick

Dave Saunders completing part of his fitness test at the UL Sport Arena

The IAFA squad at the 3G pitches, University of Limerick

The IAFA International squad met for their tenth and final training camp of the year in Limerick this weekend just weeks away from making their debut appearance at the Amputee Football World Cup. The squad are edging ever closer to the end of their road to the World Cup, a journey they started over 10 months ago. The players completed fitness testing on Friday evening. Numbers don't lie. The results of this latest fitness test prove that this squad and each individual in it have worked tirelessly over the past year to improve both physically and technically. The squad then took to the training pitches on Saturday and Sunday focusing on the tactical side of their game in preparation for the beginning of the World Cup later this month. Each and every member of the squad, players and coaches, are eagerly anticipating the upcoming tournament and are fully focused on the challenge that awaits them in Mexico. The squad hope to find out who they will meet in the group stages of the competition when the draw is made later this week. The team will meet on several occasions over the coming weeks to finalise their preparations before setting out for Mexico at the end of the month. Stay tuned to www.irishamputeefootballassociation.com our Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates as Ireland's Amputee World Cup dream unfolds.

The IAFA would like to thank the Maldron Hotel, Limerick, and all its staff for hosting the IAFA International squad each time they trained in Limerick over the past year. The players and staff were extremely well looked after each time they visited the hotel.

The IAFA would also like to thank the University of Limerick and its staff for providing state of the art training facilities for the team. At each training camp the squad have trained at the UL Sport Arena, UL's National 50m Swimming Pool and at the Sport's Campus' 3G All-Weather Pitches.

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