Academy
- Tuesday April 8th, 2025 @ 17:00
Lambe Joins Saints Academy
We are delighted to welcome Karl Lambe to the St Patrick's Athletic Academy as Lead Player Development Coach.
Lambe, who holds his UEFA A Licence, joined the club at the beginning of this season having worked with St Kevin's Boys FC from 2011 until 2024.
During his time at St Kevin's, Lambe coached the likes of Sam Curtis, who moved from St Pat's to Sheffield United in January 2023, as well as current St Pat's Academy players Ivan Graminschii and Sam Rooney, who signed his first professional contract this week. Ireland senior international Evan Ferguson is another of Karl's former players.
Having managed/coached at St Kevin's for eight years, Karl was promoted to Head of Small sided games in 2019, and was responsible for player and coach development for ages 6 to 13. He was also involved in the running of the St Kevin's/Bohemian FC partnership.
The 2018 FAI Coach of the Year, who also worked on the DDSL emerging talent programme for three years, finished up at Shanowen Road in late 2024 before joining St Pat's.
Lambe has been telling us of his delight at his new role:
"I'm over the moon to have joined St Patrick's Athletic. I've always admired the Academy from coaching against them and I've seen the quality work that has been done over the years by those involved.
St Pat's is a club that promotes youth, and not for the sake of it, but because there is a genuine passion to produce players.
The evident pathway is there in terms of players progressing through the age groups to the First Team and further afield, both in Ireland and abroad, as well as international level. There is a culture of excellence at the club and I'm delighted to be part of that now.
I'm really looking forward to working with Ger O'Brien (Sporting Director), Ian Bermingham (Head of Academy Football), Jamie Moore (U15 Manager), Mark Connolly (U14 Manager) and all of the other staff and players in the Academy and the club and also at our Partner Club Cherry Orchard FC.
My main focus will be on the U14 and U15 age groups at St Pat's, and also on the next generation of players who will join the club in the coming months and years.
These are crucial development years for the players, and we'll all be working extremely hard to make this the best environment for them to learn, develop and also to enjoy their football.
Our facilities at TU Dublin Blanchardstown are best in class, with everything in place to provide a really professional environment for the players and the staff, it's a facility we all enjoy coming to every day to work.
It's a role that really excites me, I don't think there as many roles like this across the League of Ireland and it's one that I can really get my teeth into. I'm passionate about developing players. We have a number of top level players in the Academy, many of whom have and continue to represent their country and it's our job to help them kick on to another level."
St Patrick's Athletic Head of Academy Football Ian Bermingham added:
"I'm delighted to welcome Karl to the club and specifically to the Academy as Lead Player Development Coach.
Karl has a huge amount of experience and has proven himself as a top class Development Coach over many years, working with a number of players who have gone on to earn professional careers.
He has already hit the ground running with the players over the last number of weeks and months, and has been working closely with myself, Ger O'Brien, our U14 and U15 coaching teams and the overall Academy staff.
I wish Karl all the best in his new role and look forward to working with him, he will be a huge asset to our Academy players and the club."
While Sporting Director Ger O'Brien said:
"Karl is someone I tried to bring to the club previously. He has been a fantastic development coach in the DDSL helping some of Ireland's best young talents go on to have fantastic careers.
He is an excellent addition to the Academy and his knowledge and expertise in working with youth players will only help the St Patrick's Athletic. Karl will work very closely with Ian and all the Academy coaches to continue to develop out next group of players for first team football and beyond."
