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Ireland is a long way from Phoenix, Ariz. Five thousand miles to be exact. But that didn’t scare Jerry Vance when he decided to open the first National Scouting Report office not far from Dublin in his native country.
“Although I have lived in Arizona for over 20 years and am well established there,” said the decorated Phoenix Sheriff’s Deputy, “I still go back home several times a year. With my close ties, I am confident that we can help a lot of youngsters who have the talent to compete at the college level in the U.S. We will cover all of Ireland. As the Area Director, I am already compiling a team of scouts to find athletes. I will be the liaison here in the U.S for the scout team. I will go to Ireland regularly to train new scouts, to set up showcase events, and establish affiliations and partnerships.”
Asked why he wanted to take on the responsibility as the first NSR licensee, Vance said: “(Ireland) is an under-served area. We have young athletes who would love to play sports in America, but they don’t know how to do that. We plan to select top players, expose them to all the scholarship possibilities in U.S. colleges, and guide them through the recruiting process. In Ireland, we have some of the most talented soccer athletes in the world. I am really excited about all the upsides ahead of us. We also plan to scout field hockey and basketball players. Both are popular back there.”
Vance’s soccer background is impressive. He played in both Ireland and America. He began playing highly competitive football (soccer) at the age of 14. After winning back-to-back league titles, the Naas team made a run to the semifinals of the All-Ireland Cup. At 18, Vance moved to Phoenix and began playing for the Arizona Sahuaros, who played in the USISL D-3 Pro League. An untimely knee injury ended his playing career, but Vance continues to play in the Scottsdale amateur league and the Big Field of Dreams league.
As NSR’s first Irish licensee, Vance hand-selected longtime friend, Paul Lawlor, to be his eyes and ears as NSR’s first on-the-ground scout. Lawlor comes well-suited to the task. As a respected sports blogger and commentator for several media outlets, Paul knows the lay of the land and where the talent hot spots are.
The two have been good friends since Vance’s days as a player in Naas County Kildare in Central Ireland. Lawlor, a self-professed sports nut, became a fan of the local team, Naas AFC, which competed in the Irish Cup, and eventually became one of Jerry’s best pals.
Asked why he picked Lawlor, Vance didn’t hesitate to say, “Paul is someone who I grew up with in Ireland and I trust him fully. I am confident he will present the right opportunities to the right people in Ireland. Anyone who has met Paul would never say a bad word about him. He is a gentleman, full of honesty and integrity.
“Paul is perfect for NSR Ireland. He has coached a group of youth players in Naas and has been hugely successful. He has some very solid contacts within the Irish sports leagues, and he is very popular in the sporting community. I think what I like most about Paul is his work ethic. He is very excited to bring these additional opportunities to the athletes of Ireland.”
“We hit it off from the start,” Lawlor said of his relationship with Vance, “and we’ve been tight ever since. I love sports and when Jerry offered me this opportunity, I jumped at the chance to be involved. I’m committed to this.” His commitment was evident when he took time away from work in Naas to fly to America and go through NSR’s week-long training program.
While training at NSR’s home office in Alabaster, Ala., Vance and Lawlor took a guided side trip to nearby Montevallo University, an NCAA Division II member. They toured MU’s athletic facilities and spoke at length to the school’s men’s and women’s soccer coaches about their recruiting processes.
“Having been in America for as long as I have, the visit was more a refresher course for me, but for Paul it was a wonderful, eye-opening experience,” Vance said. “It will be invaluable to him when he’s back home talking to athletes and their parents. There was some great facilities and staff. (Montevallo) would be a great opportunity for any Irish athlete.”
Said NSR president Rusty Rigney: “The coaches at Montevallo could not have been more excited to meet Jerry and Paul. To learn that we would soon be sending them Irish athletes to evaluate was something they were obviously looking forward to.
“We have long wanted to have a presence in that part of the world. Jerry and Paul give us that presence. With their knowledge and experience leading the way, we can anticipate Ireland not only being successful for us, but opening doors for our company to the rest of the British Isles and Western Europe as well.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
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