In an ongoing series we are highlighting the young players who are part of the JD Academy, the Irish Football Association’s elite development programme. Today Phoenix Blayney is in the spotlight…
Name: Phoenix Blayney
DOB: 17 November 2010
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Larne
School: Integrated College Glengormley
Hometown: Belfast
Phoenix Blayney’s earliest memory playing football was in the park with his family. And the first player he looked up to when he was growing up was his father (former Northern Ireland international keeper Alan Blayney).
On joining the JD Academy programme the young keeper noticed a key contrast between playing at club level - he is on Larne’s books - compared to representing Northern Ireland with the academy.
“The biggest difference would be the standard of players and the mentality to play the top nations,” he said.
And he further revealed: “Consistently performing and managing daily recovery are challenging aspects of the academy’s training.”
Through the academy’s residential programme he is gaining independence and experience living away from home.
Blayney admires current senior national team goalie Pierce Charles, particularly his distribution and his range of passing.
His favourite player to have represented Northern Ireland is Pat Jennings, the legendary keeper who was part of the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads.
Although he is just 15, the young keeper has already had the privilege of representing Northern Ireland at U17 level.
He was part of the squad that competed in Group 11 in round one of the qualifiers for U17 Euro 2026 back in October/November.
A win against Armenia (2-1) and draws against hosts Cyprus (0-0) and Finland (1-1) saw them finish second in their group and advance to the elite round of qualifiers this spring. Blayney started the matches against Armenia and Cyprus.
The young keeper is keen to offer advice to those who want to pursue a path within the academy.
“The academy can be hard at the start, since you’re there full-time and the standards are very good, as it’s the best players in the country,” he said. “But it’s one of the best things you can do for your footballing career.”
Ultimately Blayney’s goal in football is to play professionally his whole career.
