Sowing the seeds for the next Team 54 generation

Investment of this order in youth sport is a big reason why the Gibraltar FA's accession to UEFA and FIFA was such a milestone. Who can forget the long, tortuous road to get there, the 20-year legal battle and the massive CAS ruling that made it happen?

Whilst we often focus on the glitzy side of FIFA and UEFA membership - being the national team competitions and local club participation in Champions and Europa League - Team 54 benefits from this membership in a much wider sense. The international football governing bodies are global organisations with huge resource, clout and reach. As members, the GFA (and Gibraltar as a whole) benefit; this type of investment keeps our kids busy, active, healthy, supervised and coached. They learn the values of team-work, discipline and effort, develop friendships for life and acquire passion for what may one day be more than just a hobby.

With great investment comes great responsibility. The GFA and clubs alike must work together to ensure efficient use of this funding, so the building blocks for future success in the sport can be set in place.