About Us

At PlayerFirst, we are committed to supporting young footballers in unlocking their full potential. 

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

For clubs, we offer a comprehensive support package that spans from pre-season preparation to in-season, game-focused sessions — tailored to suit all age groups and playing levels. Our work with clubs is grounded in 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 raising overall standards and performance.

In recent years, David has leveraged his professional background as a Senior Manager with Tusla, a teacher for over ten years, and a former school principal, alongside his coaching qualifications and sporting experience, to create On the Ball! an innovative, evidence-based programme that blends targeted classroom support in literacy, numeracy with on-pitch coaching. Designed to support pupils at risk of disengaging from education or early school leaving, the programme promotes improved attendance, participation, and attainment by linking curriculum-based learning with structured physical activity.

Please explore our Testimonials to see the impact we’ve had, and if ready to get started reach out through our Contact Us page or any of our social channels.