About DFA
Founded by Professional Footballer Stuart Dallas, The Dallas Football Academy (DFA) is an all inclusive football academy based in Stuart’s home town of Cookstown, Northern Ireland.
DFA has been created through Stuart’s desire to give back to his local community, and offers children and young people in the area an unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for players of all abilities to access the highest quality training programme, built on years of experience in the professional game.
Academy sessions aim to inspire and elevate opportunities for aspiring young players in the area and more widely across Northern Ireland.
ABOUT STUART
Stuart Dallas is a former International Footballer who has accumulated over 450 appearances, most notably known for his long and successful spell at Leeds United. A fans favourite, Stuart played for Leeds United in the Premier League and also achieved 62 Northern Ireland caps.
Already a recognised and respected player in the game, it was under Marcelo Bielsa that Dallas reached his full potential with promotion to the Premier League in 2020 and the Player of the Year award in 2021. Potentially his career highlight came at the Etihad in 2021 when he scored twice including an injury time winner as Leeds defeated Pep Guardiola’s Champions 2-1.
Injury, forced Stuart into early retirement, he has since become an ambassador for Leeds United and a pundit in the UK and overseas.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be in a position where I can open my own Football Academy in my hometown to share my passion for the game and create opportunities for young people, giving back to my local community which supported me so much as a young player.
My motivation is to use football to engage and inspire young footballers of all abilities.
My ambition is that DFA becomes a home for young footballers from all walks of life and a real hub for talent in Northern Ireland, providing a creative, nurturing and positive environment that enables players to really share in my love and passion for the game.”
