Global Football is creating a celebration of American football, where a select group of schools will kickoff the season in Dublin, Ireland! It will feature 12 teams playing in 6 double headers-Dublin Friday Night Lights. Thousands of amateur players, their coaches, staff, families, alumni and fans can all be a part of GIFT 2012.
History
Since 1996 Global Football, Inc., a Texas based sports production organization dedicated to providing amateur athletes and coaches the chance to travel, play and learn internationally, has created and produced American football games in some 19 different countries. Many of these events have piggy-backed other major games, including the 11-year NFL Global Jr Championships at Super Bowls, and the 2009 Global Bowl London played the weekend of the NFL International Series game there.
In 1996 the University of Notre Dame played the Naval Academy in Dublin’s Croake Stadium, marking the first Division I football game ever played in Europe. This rivalry, which has been played every season since 1927, returns to Dublin September 1, 2012.
Background
Global Football president, Patrick Steenberge, is a 1973 graduate of Notre Dame where he earned varsity monograms as a quarterback under Coach Ara Parseghian. In 2003 he created the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, which recently completed its 7th successful year. Donations to the ND Monogram Club from the Camp have totaled nearly $300,000. In 2009 Steenberge produced the Notre Dame Japan Bowl which was played in Tokyo, Japan, with Hall of Fame Coach Lou Holtz leading a team of former Irish players to victory against the Japanese National Team.
The Plan
Global Football is creating a celebration of American football the first weekend of September 2012, traditionally the opening weekend of football season! Hundreds of amateur players, their coaches, staff, families and fans can all be a part of Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012. While the ND vs Navy game will attract tens of thousands of fans and worldwide media, we will produce ancillary games that will showcase top teams of various age groups. The hope is to further promote the sport in Ireland and Europe, while providing a memorable lifetime experience for the participants.
The Games
Friday, August 31- A series of doubleheader games to feature top US high school and NCAA Division III college teams in a-Dublin Friday Night Lights-showcase. As of July 1 we have 10 total teams committed, and plan to finalize the last 2, for a total of 12, playing in 3 different stadiums in and around Dublin.
Games will kickoff at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, with final schedule of teams and stadiums to be determined when all slots are filled and stadium agreements completed, with Sept 1, 2011 being the target date.
Renowned for friendliness, our safe, English speaking country offers the warmest of welcomes to students from all over the world. Learn more at EducationIreland.com.
