With the season just around the corner, the Airdrie Irish just announced a new strategic partnership with the Calgary Colts.

According to the Irish's Facebook page, The partnership between these clubs will be of great benefit to both of their organizations and communities. They are supporting each other through recruitment, coaching clinics, and fundraising with the mutual mission to produce the best football players in Canada.

This strategic partnership allows players to play for the Irish of the Alberta Football League (AFL) and then possibly move up to play for the Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League.

"The staff of both teams know each other very well. We wanted to help develop an ecosystem for players specifically in Airdrie. We feel that a lot of kids in the community sometimes get overlooked. And we want to make sure that regardless of where your skill level is there's a home for you," stated Anton Bellot, Head Coach of the Airdrie Irish.

Bellot was also just named the linebacker coach for the Colts but will continue to be the Head Coach of the Irish.

"It could be a senior in grade 12, who is looking to join the Colts, you'd go to the Colts first and maybe if he's not ready, that's okay, we (the Irish) can use our resources to develop that potential athletes and then hopefully get them back playing with the Colts or even beyond that and into university football."

Bellot mentioned one player who was a part of the Irish this past year is moving up to the Colts, and that's what made them think of this idea.

"Quinn MacDonald, our left tackle played with us last season and he is going to be joining the Colts this upcoming season. When we had that first one go through, we said there's a lot of opportunity for us to work collaboratively."

Bellot stated that in no way is either team trying to steal talent to make one team worse.

With the season up and coming, the Irish have held a few indoor camps in preparation for the 2024 football year. 

"We are averaging about 25 athletes at those camps, which is phenomenal. The team is excited, eager and ready to go. We're excited to build off the momentum we had last year."

On Friday, Bellot was named the coach of the year in the AFL.

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