The general assembly of the Football Association of Ireland has voted for the introduction of the aligned football calendar, one of the 11 priority actions under the organisation's Football Pathways Plan.
At a hybrid meeting held in Dublin and online on Thursday night, a majority of delegates voted in favour of a four-year phased introduction of a new calendar for all fixtures at all levels of the game, with the vote passing by 74 votes to 56.
Following the vote, all football activity across the professional, amateur and underage children's seasons will be aligned by 2028.
Currently, the majority of grassroots leagues are played between August and May, but with significant fragmentation.
There are 72 leagues across all levels of the game in the Republic of Ireland, with 68% of them playing a winter season (August to May) and 32% playing a calendar season. The country is an outlier in Europe as it is the only UEFA member that does not have an aligned football calendar.
Welcoming the outcome of the vote, FAI president Paul Cooke said: "This is a really significant day for Irish football as we come together to improve the game for every player, coach, volunteer, supporter and affiliate.
"The FAI board and staff will now take time to digest tonight's meeting and the positive result.
"We welcome this decision and look forward to activating the phased implementation of the aligned football calendar.
"We take on board and respect all the views expressed both for and against the resolution here this evening.
"On behalf of the board, I want to thank all those who worked on the aligned football calendar to get us to this stage and also all who contributed to the debate over the last year."
The FAI general assembly vote for the aligned football calendar passed by 74 votes to 56 tonight. pic.twitter.com/SJePagqo35
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2024
FAI chief football officer Marc Canham remarked: "Tonight’s vote is a green light for progress but the hard work starts here for all of us.
"We acknowledge all the views expressed, both at the meeting tonight and at our engagements all across the country in recent times, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders over the next four years to bring the aligned football calendar into effect by 2028 for the benefit of all who participate in Irish football and most importantly for current and future generations of players at all levels.
"Tonight’s vote is a vote for change and a vote for progress and a result Irish football can be proud of across our game."
FAI grassroots director Ger McDermott said: "Our grassroots game continues to grow thanks to the tireless work of our volunteers, and tonight's outcome provides us with the roadmap to create the right pathways for all involved in our game.
"The result only reinforces our commitment to continue to work with all stakeholders to deliver more football, more often, with more variety for all our players, from the youngest to the oldest.
"We will continue to develop an achievable plan that offers progression and a pathway for all our clubs to enable them to realise their own ambitions within a pyramid system.
"I look forward to working with our volunteers within the adult amateur and professional and the children's game to implement our plan as we look to a new future for Irish football."
However, the aligned calendar was not universally welcomed, with Midlands Schoolboys/girls League chair Chris Nestor one of those less than enamoured with the outcomes of the vote.
"I was surprised it passed," Nestor told RTÉ Sport. "From anybody I was talking to in the schoolboy and schoolgirl section and the junior section, they all thought it wasn't a good idea.
"But the vote was taken and it was passed."
Nestor regards the prospect of children's games taking place during the summers holidays as a major stumbling block, and added: "The summer season doesn't suit people, you're going to be asking people to play or trying to play games when they are on holidays.
"It definitely will affect teams and the players they will have. That probably will reduce the numbers that are playing."
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