Big coup for Collinstown with appointment of St Pat’s legend Bermingham
By Hayden Moore
EXCITEMENT is in the air in Collinstown FC following the appointment of St Patrick’s Athletic captain Ian Bermingham as their new Senior Head Coach.
Having dipped his toe into the world of coaching briefly, the St Pat’s record appearance holder believes he can help the Clondalkin outfit into the top ranks of the Leinster Senior League.
Collinstown FC management Kevin Carroll, Ian Bermingham and Brendan Oliver. The arrival of St Patrick’s Athletic record league appearance holder, Bermingham, to the club is a massive boost as they set about pushing for promotion to the top ranks of the Leinster Senior League.
Speaking about the decision to take up a coaching role, Bermingham told The Echo: “I’ve played football all my life, but I’ve always enjoyed watching football as well and the tactical side to the game.
“I done a little bit of coaching with the local side Drumfinn [Celtic], then with Pat’s 15s and I suppose I just got the bug for coaching from there.
“I’ve supported Collinstown over the past few years, going to games and that because a few of my mates would have played for them.
“I would have been offered roles with Collinstown over the past few years and the timing just wasn’t right, but when I got the offer just before Christmas, it felt like the role had come at the right time.
“I know some of the lads are excited about me coming in and I’m equally excited to be joining them. I’m really just looking forward to get working with them now.”
Bermingham joins the management team of Kevin Carroll and Brendan Oliver for the 2021 season.
Carroll has been at the helm of the Clondalkin outfit during their stunning rise through Leinster Senior League, and he is looking forward to working with Bermingham.
“We approached Ian two seasons ago and the timing just wasn’t there,” Carroll told The Echo.
“He’s very ambitious and his ideas on football are great.
“Ian really has great scope and sure he’s played at the highest level. It’s a very exciting time for the club to have him coming on board.
“St Pat’s would be our local club so a lot of the schoolboys would be Pat’s supporters.
“We have Under 19s and 18s training with us and we’d dip into them throughout the season. They’re Pat’s supporters so they’re going to be over the moon to work with Ian.
“They’d already look up to some of the older players in the club, but to get the St Pat’s captain is such a great scalp for the club.”
Although they are keeping ideas close to the chest ahead of the new season, Bermingham is looking forward to getting on the grass and putting them into practice.
Bermingham remarked: “I’ve learnt off loads of coaches through the years and I’d have a few different ideas in my head about how I want the game to be played that I’m looking forward to implementing on the pitch.
“I’d know some of the more experienced lads in the squad and from talking to Kevin, I know there’s a strong squad of young lads there.
“I’ve seen the progress that the club has made under Kevin and it’s a testament to him. I think he’s there since the start, so the past 14 years.
“I’m happy to be part of that future, I can’t wait to get going and I’m confident we can get up into the top division next season.”
Collinstown has been on an upward trajectory since it was established in 2007, achieving four consecutive promotions through the Leinster Senior League.
The club will compete in Senior Division One after being promoted in 2020, and Carroll attributes the key to their success to the youth structures in the club.
“Our main objective is to go up. We wanted to reach the Senior Division as quickly as possible,” says Carroll.
“When we entered the Leinster Senior League, we thought that there might have been a few years in between promotions, but we’ve really knuckled down in our coaching and management.
“Having a good schoolboy set-up has been key.
“To be able to dip into the Under 18s and Under 19s like that is fantastic. Without them, we could have struggled a bit.”
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