About Us

At PlayerFirst, we are committed to supporting young footballers, clubs and schools to turn potential into progress.

Founded by David Dineen, a UEFA A Licence coach with over two decades of experience coaching across the League of Ireland, PlayerFirst was created to provide committed young players with the specialised support they need to develop consistent performance, confidence and visible progress.

For clubs, we offer support that spans from pre-season preparation to in-season, game-focused delivery, tailored to suit different age groups and playing levels. Our work with clubs focuses on improving team cohesion, game intelligence, positional understanding, tactical awareness and physical conditioning. We collaborate closely with coaches to design and deliver sessions that meet their squad’s specific needs while helping raise overall standards and performance.

For schools, PlayerFirst delivers football-based programmes that combine fun, fitness, physical literacy and learning. Through FUNdamentals and On the Ball! we support pupils through active, engaging programmes that connect classroom learning with structured football activity. These programmes are designed to promote confidence, participation, attendance and attainment, particularly for pupils who may be at risk of disengaging from education.

PlayerFirst also operates CoachConnect, an initiative designed to connect coaches with clubs, and clubs with coaches. CoachConnect gives clubs access to a wider pool of available coaches, while giving coaches greater reach, visibility and opportunity beyond their current club, locality or league.

Across all areas of our work, PlayerFirst brings together football experience, educational insight and a player-centred approach to support better development outcomes on and off the pitch.

Please explore our Testimonials to see the impact we have had, or get in touch through our Contact Us page or social channels.