David Gough: After leaving St. Laurence in 2001, I started a BSc. in Sports Management in UCD from which I graduated in May 2004. Shortly afterwards, I was accepted for a Masters in Sports Administration and Technology from the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology in Lausanne , Switzerland . I moved in January '05 and thoroughly enjoyed the course, learned a lot and met some great friends in a class of 35 people from 17 different countries and 5 different continents.

As part of the Masters (which I graduated in December '05), I had to complete a sports related internship and ended up finding a 7 month internship in UEFA in which I assisted the project manager for the Under-21 Championship in Portugal in May and June just past and helped in the organisation of the Qualifying Draw for EURO 2008 in January. The tournament was a wonderful experience for me and I saw the amount of work that goes into the hosting of events and football matches even at Under-21 level. As my internship finished, a permanent position became available, I applied, got the job and started in the Football Development Division on July 3. I will be working, with other colleagues, on our Grassroots Football Programme, Coaches Circle and Medicine matters. As those who know me will know, a job in football is a dream job for me!

I live in Lausanne , 30 minutes from where I work here in Nyon, and really like the pace of life in Switzerland (except on Sundays when EVERYTHING closes). I have met lots of new people and continue to do so, almost on a daily basis. I'm still not speaking much French which is terrible considering I've lived here for 18 months but I am enrolling in classes so hopefully I can finally grasp it.

My memories of St. Laurence, are of course good and there were many highlights, inevitably it’s a football one that stands out: winning the Dublin Metropolitan Under-18 Football Championship in my 6th year with a great coach (Mr. Colhoun), great players and most of all great team-spirit. I swear I'll remember the games we played that year forever.

I'm still in regular contact with a fair few of my classmates and hope to continue this. I'd also like to hear from those I don't see, email or text. I'm sure I'll be home (and it is still "home") to the Emerald Isle someday, and I get back for breaks quite regularly, but for now it's Switzerland for me. [July '06]