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Academy’s international partnership

Cliftonville Football Club are delighted to confirm an official international partnership with the Cordia Football Academy in India.

The Sanghol-based Academy – an initiative of Lord Diljit Rana – was established and inaugurated by the Governor of Punjab, HE Shri VPS Badnore, in July 2017 and is committed to producing and mobilising resources to train children to become professional football players by enrolling them in unique football training programmes and providing them with international coaching experience.

Sameer Seth (Vice President, Cordia FC), Mr Dermott Brooks (Finance Director, Andras House), Lord Rana (Chairman, Cordia FC), Mr Gerard Lawlor (Chairman, Cliftonville FC), Mr David Begley (CEO, Cliftonville FC), Mr Jim Boyce (Club Patron, Cliftonville FC)

As part of this collaboration with the Cliftonville Academy, a group of Cordia Under 14 players will soon visit Solitude to observe the facilities, interact with our own players, play friendly matches and experience the local culture.

Founded in the year 2000, Cliftonville’s Academy currently caters for some 300 boys and girls throughout various age groups, who are looked after by more than 60 coaching staff and volunteers.

Welcoming the new cultural and sporting partnership, Reds Chairman Gerard Lawlor said: “We are delighted to be working together with the Cordia Football Academy in the development of young football talent and are really looking forward to their visit to Belfast in October.

“Such partnerships will continue to foster the unique friendships and opportunities football can give.”

Lord Rana – a leading entrepreneur and founder of Andras Hotels, which includes the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn – explained: “I am delighted to be working with Cliftonville FC given the Club’s long-standing, respected status and its great work with local youth in Belfast.

“Regardless of where in the world they live, people are all fundamentally the same. They need support and they need someone to believe in their dreams.

“Those basic human requirements are the same, whether you are from Belfast or the Punjab. This project will foster teamwork and encourage self-belief and build global connections for the future.”

Cordia FC in action during the Administrators Cup, Chandigarh, India