Former defender Johnny Flynn says the emergence of full-time football in the Irish League is inspiring the next generation of young players.
Flynn is currently head coach at Andersonstown Community Football Club where he works with kids across a range of age groups, many of whom hold dreams of becoming professional footballers in years to come.
The 32-year-old's own career included spells across the water with clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Ross County and Falkirk. He then returned home to the Irish Premiership with Cliftonville, Ballymena United and Portadown.
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Flynn believes the Northern Ireland top flight is a more attractive product these days, especially with a number of clubs going full-time.
And he hopes more clubs can follow suit in the years to come, and with it offer kids a better chance of earning a professional contract without having to move away.
"I think the full-time element is brilliant, and I hope it can continue building momentum," he told Belfast Live.
"I retired in 2018 before all this happened, but it has been great to watch. It gives you more hope for the younger generation coming through.
"I look at our oldest team at Andersonstown which is the 2013 age group. By the time they get old enough to go Under 16 or 17 I hope the majority of teams will be full-time.
"Whether that is a plan NIFL (NI Football League)goes down, or that some more backing comes in, we have to wait and see. Hopefully the backing does arrive.
"You have Linfield, Larne and Glentoran who are fully professional, and then Crusaders who seem to have some sort of hybrid approach. Other clubs are also training extra nights but are still part-time.
"So the gap is closing, but talking to parents who have kids at our club, the big hope is that by the time our 10-year-olds reach senior football, that the league will be fullyprofessional.
"Clubs are doing good work, and more teams doing scholarship programmes is great to see. So it hopefully bodes well for the future generation.
"There is a better chance of becoming a professional footballer if most of the league is full-time."
Flynn swapped Falkirk for Cliftonville in 2014, ending his time in professional football across the water. He admits the transition was difficult to adjust to at the start.
He said: "When I came back it was harder to adjust. Going from full-time to training two nights a week and playing on a Saturday.
"I also didn't start work until a couple of years later.
"But the league is getting better for players coming back from across the water, and also for preparing players to go into full-time football in England and Scotland.
"The education side of it is better now. I went across the water in 2008 and it was all eggs in one basket.
"Now you see boys coming back, like Joel Cooper for example, and it isn't much of a change. He is swapping one full-time environment for another.
"Rhys Marshall went to Shamrock Rovers and came into another full-time setting at Glentoran, so it is easier to adjust.
"Kofi Balmer got a lot of game time at Ballymena and then had full-time football at Larne. That set him up for his move to Crystal Palace."
The professional clubs dominate the betting market for this season's Irish Premiership, with Linfield favourites with many to retain the Gibson Cup.
Flynn doesn't believe it is a foregone conclusion that the full-time sides will dictate the pace this season, and believes there are plenty of clubs who can muscle into the title race.
"I don't think full-time teams will dominate this season. You only have to look at Cliftonville's performance last season, and then Coleraine starting this season on the front foot," he said.
"If Linfield qualify for the group stages of the Europa Conference League, will that hinder them a wee bit having to travel across Europe for midweek games?
"I think maybe two or three years down the line you will probably see the full-time teams dominating a lot more."
The Irish Premiership continues to grow, with the opening weekend seeing a 22 per cent hike in attendances across all six games.
Flynn believes it is an attractive proposition for footballers, but insists it has to continue growing on and off the pitch.
"It is definitely a more attractive league for footballers. If you can offer a League One or Two player a full-time contract on similar terms, and the chance to play in Europe, then it will appeal to them," he said.
"You won't get that playing in the lower divisions in England or Scotland. An you are seeing more Irish League players getting recognition for their countries.
"Michael O'Neill brought in a few players and so has Ian Baraclough. Shayne Lavery and Conor McMenamin are two examples.
"That makes them attractive prospects for club managers.
"The crowds are back, with a 22 per cent rise in the opening day attendances.
"I know it is only the first week after a long summer, but it is encouraging to see. Fingers crossed they continue to come out and support the league.
"Bigger attendances will help clubs with finances which can only be a good thing."
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