Grassroots Magazine

James McFadden on his youth career, that night in Paris and our top 5 youth goals

A PUBLICATION BY

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ISSUE 1

7

Contents

TOP 5

1

5

t

e

Rangers FC vs Hibernia 9th Nov 2013

Erin Cuthbert now plays for Glasgow City’s first team.

The same team that recently reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Womens Champions League.

In 2013 she was a 15 year old, playing her final match before graduating from youth football, to play in the Rangers first team at that tender age.

Rangers faced Hibernian in the final of the Scottish Cup at Toryglen. It was stalemate and Cuthbert’s time to shine.

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YOUTH GOALS ames McFadden’s goal was one of a kind, there is no doubting that.

The stage, the shot, the euphoria of a nation. However, every weekend on public playing fields across Scotland, there is a McFaddenesque moment.

These goals aren’t seen by millions, but those who do witness them in the flesh, are unlikely to ever forget them.

Here are five special goals from Scottish youth football, which YFS were lucky enough to capture on camera.

2

Erin said: “ time and H us so when yards out I make some

“I nearly lo the edge o when I fina of goal, I th smashing i using the o right foot in

“I had a m because it was going the post a feeling wa

Dean Burgess

Edina Hibs vs Rangers SABC (U13’s) 11th May 2014

Playing in a Scottish Cup final is something most players will never experience. To reach the final at the very first time of asking – Under 13 level – is the stuff dreams are made of.

However, some players aren’t content to let the dream end there, and Dean Burgess of Edina Hibs is certainly one of them. With the game being fiercely contested in true East vs West fashion, he picked up the ball forty yards from goal

and made one of the best decisions he’ll make in his life.

Dean said: “I looked and saw the keeper off his line.

I took my touch and just went for the goal. When it happened I was so amazed, stunned and delighted to score in the Scottish Cup final.

“It was such a good feeling to watch it back, remember it and make my family proud.

It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

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36

106

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MY YOUTH CAREER “It was la I had bee own. It wa few and came to m it and kne nobody w took a to me I caug

REER

r

Erin Cuthber

Who was your favourite coach at youth level?

The best coaches I have ever had were Bill Munro and Shelley Valle - at any level of football.

Cumbernauld LFC coaches where I spent 13 years as a player.

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10 NEWSDESK

58 NUTRITION

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62 MY YOUTH CAREER

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66 THE BOB DOCHERTY CUP

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68 THE GRASSROOTS GRILLING

Spiece COTTISH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL If you had one of advice to today’s JAMES MCFADDEN generation of youth football players, what would it be?

TOP 5 YOUTH GOALS To have the best time ever, practice lots, have fun with TOURNAMENT GUIDE your friends and listen to your coaches.

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36 SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATION ach 100 caps for Scotland 56 COERVER COACHING with spells at top clubs in and.

E HAMILL

- IAN CATHRO

70 LITTLE BIG SHOT YOUTH CUP 74 SCOTTISH FA PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS

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76 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

FOOTBALL

78 FOOTBALL NATION COMPETITION 80 THE BIG INTERVIEW: DUNCAN FERGUSON

83 REFEREEING 86 PRO YOUTH 94 TOM KITCHEN 106 YOUNG FATHERS

You don’t n to tell whic referring to most iconic of the last d was the pin began takin earlier.

“I first bega when I was Celtic Nort had an Und could only week anyw lads a few

“I progress Boys Club when I w

Introduction

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elcome to the very first issue of Grassroots, a magazine covering all areas of the grassroots game in Scotland.

From mini kickers to Under 21s, Stranraer to Shetland and recreational to international, we have every kick of the ball covered.

Youth Football Scotland’s mission is to highlight all that is positive in the youth game across the country and this brand new publication sets out to do just that. Our spotlight falls on the players, teams and volunteers across Scotland’s six footballing regions – celebrating their successes on and off the field.

We also speak to some of Scottish grassroots football’s graduates from years gone by. Darren Fletcher and James McFadden, you may expect to see. Michelin star chef Tom Kitchin and Mercury Prize winning musician Alloysious Massaquoi, perhaps raise an eyebrow. Aye, they used to kick a ball about a muddy park.

Nutrition, coaching, refereeing, technology, kit & equipment and tournaments all have their own sections. We scour the nation to bring you all things relevant to the youth players, parents, coaches, fans and clubs of Scotland. And a bit of banter too of course, as where would grassroots football be without it?

Our thanks go to the team of voluntary journalists and photographers, who made this magazine possible. And to the young players and volunteers across Scotland – unsung heroes that form the lifeblood of the game we love.

See you at the game, The Grassroots Team

CREDITS Editorial & Production

Photography

Alasdair Hooper Andy Steele Brian McNally David Walthall Grant MacLeod Murray Milligen Robbie Forsyth Robert Wilson Ryan Rowe Scott McPherson Sean Selkirk Tom Sutton

Alan Graham Colin Poultney Craig McAllister David Brockett Gordon Cleary Jamie McEachen Liam Cleary Omar Yassen Paul Guz Ray Millum Steven Mair Susie Raeburn Tom Finnie Violet Shelley

Design Paul McGhee

YOUTH FOOTBALL SCOTLAND Caledonia House, 1 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ • E M A I L dwalthall@youthfootballscotland.co.uk • TEL 0131 629 7903 www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk www.facebook.com/likeyfs | www.twitter.com/yfst ISSUE 1

9

Newsdesk

Young Scots are good sports The month of April saw young Pirie Park U14 striker Aiden McCuish awarded Man of the Match by his opponents – Dumbarton United. Why? After rounding the Dumbarton goalkeeper he hit the floor and the referee was all set to send off the ‘keeper.

However, McCuish intervened, telling the referee he had tripped and allowing the game to restart with a dropped ball.

Before the month was out, another good sportsmanship story had reached YFS. Syngenta Juveniles U13s were due to play Gairdoch United in a cup final. United were unable to field a team for the day of the final and default procedure would mean a walkover and cup victory for Syngenta. However, the Grangemouth side refused to accept this and have offered to rearrange the final for another date.

Well done to all involved.

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Date confirmed for UEFA Grassroots Week UEFA Grassroots week will take place between September 7th and 13th. If your club is planning anything that would like media coverage from YFS, please get in touch.

NEWSDESK

Nominations open for Scottish U15 Girls are Bob FA Grassroots Awards Docherty Cup champions The Scottish FA is accepting nominations for the 2015 Grassroots Awards, in association with McDonald’s and the Sunday Mail. Last year’s big winner was Alex Tulloch of Tass Thistle, who scooped the People’s Award. Lorna McAuley of East Fife’s Youth Academy and Stuart Marlow of Halliburton AFC were runners-up. You can make your nominations at: grassroots.scottishfa.co.uk

Scotland’s U15 Schoolgirls pulled off the ultimate achievement, winning all four games in the recent Bob Docherty Cup tournament. England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales were all defeated without the concession of a goal. Read a full tournament review in this magazine.

Penicuik High School make history

Aberdeen lead SPFL Development honours

Penicuik High School’s senior football team made history – becoming the first ever team from Midlothian to win the Scottish Schools FA Senior Shield (in its 111 year history). An incredible run saw them beat St Ambrose, St Margaret’s, Woodmill and Strathaven, before seeing off Notre Dame in the final.

Celtic’s five year hold on the SPFL Development league came to an end, when Aberdeen FC U20s clinched their first title since 1998/99 – with a few games to spare. Joining the Dons with SPFL Development League success are Airdrieonians FC (West League winners) and Forfar Athletic (East League winners)

ISSUE 1

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NORTH REGION

NORTH REGION

NORTH REGION

Westdyke Girls FC

Westdyke Girls FC The story of Westdyke Girls FC partly begins in 1988 at the Texas Soccer Academy. It was the year that Alun Harries, after leaving college in the Midlands and gaining his FA coaching badge, went over to the USA and was taken aback by the high standard of girls’ football. It was from that moment on that Alun knew the potential of the girls and women’s game.

“It wasn’t until about seven years ago when my daughter Caitlin started playing at primary two that my interest was rekindled” he said. By the time she was at primary five I realised that she and other girls were almost discriminated against and I decided that it was time to move things on.”

It was after seeing his daughter only get to play thirty seconds during an entire football festival than Alun decided enough was enough. “I was aware that Westdyke had started a 13’s girl team and I approached the coaches about a primary girls’ setup” he said. “I was told that the club was keen to go down that route, but it would need someone to start it up and get the ball rolling.

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“From there, each time my daughter played against any local team with a young girl on the opposition side, I would approach their parents and see if they wanted to join the ‘team’. From there the Primary set up at the club just mushroomed. Along with fellow parent, and now coach of 16’s Chris McPherson, we were able to put out two teams of primary girls each week. Very quickly two teams became three, and then four.”

“The club currently has 80 girls playing from age eight through to 15. We have two teams playing in the North Region U16’s league with one team being a Development team made up of the younger girls within the 1316 age group. Likewise, we have two teams in the 13’s league with again one being a Development team. We also have girls playing within the North Region Girls Football League with teams at 9’s and 11’s.”

Nowadays Alun and the club are as busy as ever. “In the last 12 months I have managed to organise a trip for the girls to a Scotland Ladies World Cup Qualifier whilst taking in a local tournament against Central belt teams,

Elgin vs Devronvale Aberdeen Ladies vs 13’s Elgin 16’s

held a Summer Fun day for all the girls and families, and had a family bingo/disco night” he said. “We also went on a tour at the beginning of April to Manchester and the North East of England, organised by Trans World Soccer.

“For me it’s about a sense of purpose and belonging and I cannot imagine being with any other club. I have made some really good friends with individual coaches and parents throughout the club and I have a great set of girls in my team who I have been with and seen develop over the last four years.

“I also enjoy being associated with a club that is receiving real recognition both locally and nationally for the way it is run and was “ahead of the game” when looking to bring the girls on-board. I think this is highlighted in the fact that we have been invited to give a presentation on the inclusion of the girls into the club at the “Scottish Women in Sports” annual conference in May.” Of course, the girls section has grown with the help of a large number of people and Alun was keen to mention them. “From

SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

IMPOR TANT D ATES Girls Leag ue Cup F inals Sat 12th Septemb er, Aberdeen Sports Vil la ge (1

3’s & 16 ’s )

Aberdeen Ladies vs Elgin 16’s Pic - Ray Millum

NORTH REGION

Girls’ and Women’s Football NORTH Region It is currently an exciting time in the North Region for female football, with the opportunities for girls participating in the game going from strength to strength.

The biggest noticeable increase in the game has been at the 9’s and 11’s age groups.

Sunday mornings in Aberdeen are fully packed with over 200 girls attending Fun fours, Super fives and Soccer 7s activities with their local club. These matches are non-competitive and are run as festivals to maximise playing time and enjoyment.

In addition to team events, there is a weekly Fun Centre that runs at Aberdeen Sports Village for P1-4 girls (Sunday mornings, 1011am cost: £1.50). This is a unique session that encourages girls from throughout the North East to come together, have fun, and try football. It’s fantastic to see girls getting into the game at an earlier age which can only enhance their development.

Elgin vs Devronvale 13’s Pic - Eleni McKenna

the Executive Committee of the club who welcomed the introduction of the girls section into the “Boys” club” he said. “As well, my fellow head coaches, Chris McPherson (16’s), Jonathan Watt (13’s), David Hodgson (13’s Development) and Caroline Hastings (9’s and 11’s) who through hard work and dedication have been responsible for seeing the girls section succeed.

“There has also been tremendous support from the local Scottish FA representatives on both the Girls and Boys side with particular acknowledgment of the work done for the girls by the current Regional Development Officer, Jo Murphy and her predecessor Fin Annand. Jo is working tirelessly to build up the

NORTH REGION

There are now over 30 clubs with female football provision catering for over 1000 players within the region. With five new girls

numbers of younger girls within other clubs whilst also offering ourselves assistance as and when needed.

“Claire Greig who has the ‘office’ side of things for the North is always more than willing to give advice and guidance whilst Morag Pirie arranges the referees for each weeks 13’s/16’s fixtures. I am also aware that the whole club, also receives excellent support and guidance from both Graeme Sutherland and Mark Slater who have both been prominent in the club’s development and in promoting its strengths.”

Looking to the future, Alun has big plans for the girls’ side. “I am particularly passionate to

sections at clubs being established over the past year, there has never been more opportunities to get involved in a club. A notable success has been with a project that was run in conjunction with Middlefield Wasps and Northstar Community Football Club in the St Machar and Northfield areas of Aberdeen. In total nearly 100 girls in P1-7 have participated in the sessions and now continue to enjoy football and continue to participate in physical activity in these clubs on a weekly basis.

Projects for the next few months include establishing girls sections in Kintore, Dyce, and Banchory as well as looking to increase participation in Moray and in Inverness and developing existing clubs.

For more information on anything discussed, visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/ secondary.cfm?page=2674 or you can contact me directly via email on joanne.murphy@scottishfa.co.uk or call 01343 540101.

see the setup of a Ladies side in the next few years, thereby giving all those girls who are currently playing at 13s and 16’s a pathway to follow and keep them at Westdyke” he said.

“There is clearly a lot of work to be done but it is something I am keen to be involved in. I am also keen that we continue with social events and trips.

“I believe that it’s important that we work hard in maintaining Legacy status and the good work around Positive Coaching Scotland is something that we must reinforce regularly at each age group. Hopefully we will see the fruition of all the hard work being done around the 3G pitch in the not too distant future. The future’s bright, the future’s blue and white!”

ISSUE 1

15

SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL EAST REGION

EAST REGION

EAST REGION

EAST REGIO

on Girls 17’s Forfar Farmingt

Jeanfield Girls 17’s

Monifieth Ladies

Monifieth Ladies

MONIFIETH AND BEYOND? For many coaches involved in the youth game, their involvement starts when their son or daughter gets involved with a team. For Allison Bell of Monifieth Ladies that’s no exception. “It all started in 2011 when my daughter got asked to try-out for her local team” she said.

Since then there has been no looking back for Allison and the club as a whole. “The more matches and training sessions I went to, the more I showed I wanted to be more involved” she said.

“I first started work as a First Aider to the girls. I have now progressed onto the coaching team having gained my ‘Level 3’ and ‘Coaching footballers 13+’ qualifications.”

With seven teams at Monifieth Ladies FC, ranging from under 9’s to a 17’s team, there is currently about 90 girls involved. Allison also notes that the club is attracting more and more players all the time. “The club has

16

transformed by becoming so much more organised” she said. “Before most people just looked at it as a hobby. Not now!

“There are many people who have got the club to where it is at today, from our chairman Graham Mearns, to our head coach Justine Simpson. We also rely on lots of outside help from parents.

“The Scottish FA East team are also brilliant, namely Jo Whittet and Sam Milne. They are always there to help with questions or situations, big or small. They have both helped in recruiting new players for us and promoting our club further afield.”

For Allison, being involved with Monifieth has allowed her to see the development of many of the girls.

“Mostly I enjoy seeing them grow into the great footballers that they are and how all their personalities make

Monifieth Ladies FC a great club to be involved with.”

It’s not all plain sailing though and Allison admits that’s the case for most girls and boys teams saying “The most challenging part is to make the players feel wanted and keep them focussed on their team, teammates, and club. As they grow and mature, their interests undoubtedly change.”

With a great season of football ahead, Allison is quietly confident as ever for the future of the club. “My hopes are that Monifieth Ladies FC keeps getting stronger as a club and keeps girls always wanting to play football.

“One ambition would be to see at least one Monifieth Ladies FC player play for Scotland. Hopefully that can be something in the not so distant future.”

ROBERT WILSON

ON

EAST REGION

EAST REGION

EAST REGION

IMPOR TAN DATES T

League C u Saturday st p Finals 21 June 2015 Location: TBC

Sam Milne Foreword In the past year there has been some fantastic progress for the Girls’ and Women’s game in the East Region. We recently held six weeks of Winter Festivals in Dundee and Perth for the run up to the 2015 season. We had just under 700 girls attended over 11’s, 13’s, 15’s and 17’s age groups.

These festivals are now an annual event we run to support girls’ teams in their transition into the season and to also to give them pre-season activity.

We also ran our first female only referee course which finished

in February this year with seven females passing the course. This has been a great support for the Girls and Women’s game as most of these females are now refereeing in the youth game in Tayside and Fife.

In the next few months I will be working with some new clubs to support them to have girls sections.

We have also had an influx of clubs who now have girls’ players, so we will be supporting them to get into the formal fixtures in the next few months.

Looking ahead, we have a development festival and the League Cup finals in June. An exciting month of girls’ football in the East Region beckons.

For more information on anything discussed, visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/secondary. cfm?page=2673 or you can contact me directly via email on Sam.Milne@scottishfa.co.uk or call 01382 458 434

ISSUE 1

17

SOUTH EAST REGION

Spartans vs Bonnyrigg 17’s

SOUTH EAST REGION

SOUT

Bonnyrigg vs Raith 17’s

Pic: Susie Raeburn

Pic: Susie Raeburn

Girls’ and Women’s Football in the South East Region KAREN MCCONNELL Since starting my job as Girls’/Women’s Club Development Officer in October 2011 there has been some fantastic growth and development in the game thanks to the hard work of the coaches and volunteers at our Grassroots clubs.

The South East region has always been strong in the development of the girls’ game and my priority has been to work with existing clubs to help grow their pathway so that girls can join clubs earlier and continue to play for as long as they wish.

The clubs have really embraced this ethos, and from only having one club in 2011 with a full player pathway for girls from u11 to women, we now have six out of our twenty two youth clubs at that stage with several others only a year or two away from having that structure in place.

For me the biggest success story of the past three years has been the growth at the Karen McConnell

18

youngest age groups. Trophy free football at 4v4 for 8’s, 5v5 for 9’s and 7v7 for 11’s.

Nearly all of our youth clubs have teams at these age groups, as coaches and officials see the benefit of bringing girls into the game at a young age and allowing them to participate in fun, competitive football with no pressure on results, points or trophies.

This growth has now impacted on the number of teams entering the structured leagues at u13, with 30 teams registered to play at this age group in 2015 – by far our highest ever number!

The key focus areas for the girls’ game going forward in the region is now to look at supporting new girls’ clubs in areas with little current activity – particularly in the Scottish Borders, with several clubs already keen to get involved.

More clubs and more teams mean we can further split leagues and competitions according to the players’ age and stage of development with the ultimate goal of girls being able to join a local team and play at a level that will best support her development and individual aspirations.

Rab Taylor

T

he route to becoming a coach at a club varies from person to person. For Rab Taylor it was a case of answering the call. “I got involved with the Girls Section at Musselburgh Windsor seven years ago” he said. “My daughter Ellie started playing at Musselburgh Windsor when she was seven years old.

Her brother Daniel who is 5 years older was already playing for Musselburgh Windsor and I was coaching his team. The girls section were short of coaches and I was asked to help out, so I started coaching the 11’s Girls team.

“At that time there were not enough Girls teams to be involved in a girls’ league and we played in the boys ESSDA league.

We always played boys who were an age group younger in order to try to balance out the physicality. I knew nothing about girls or women’s football however I loved the energy and enthusiasm shown by the girls.

Seven years later I find myself heading up the girls section.

“All of the girls were keen to learn and I was looking for a fresh challenge. It was clear that more and more girls wanted to play football and the numbers were growing every week so I decided to stop coaching my son’s team and help out the girls section. I started to read about and

SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL H EAST REGION

SOUTH EAST REGION

SOUTH EAST REGION

Musselburgh Windsor Girls

Musselburgh vs Spartans learn about the girls and women’s game and it became clear that participation in the game was ready to explode in respect of the number of girls taking part. Seven years ago when my daughter started playing her classmates thought she was weird because she played football. Two years later most of her classmates were at the club.”

Since getting involved the girls section at Musselburgh Windsor Girls has, as Rab put it, exploded. “The biggest change from when I first got involved is the number of girls who now play for the club.

Seven years ago we had a 13’s team and an 11’s team. The 11’s team was made up of kids who ranged in age from seven or eight up to 11 years old. From memory I think we had around 25 girls.

“We now have just under 70 girls and the growth of the Girls Section has been incredible. That said our growth is limited by the number of coaches and

volunteers willing to get involved in girls football, not the number of girls wanting to play. If we had say another five coaches, we could grow the number of girls taking part to over 100.

All the hard work though for Rab is made worthwhile, saying “The smiling faces of the girls when they enjoy a training session or have played well in a game is fantastic. As well, each team has its perks. The 11’s team who never tire or stop running, the 13’s who are developing into their future-selves, and the banter and wit of the 15’s as they become ‘game wise’.”

15’s

Pic: Susie Raeb urn

“We would not be where we are today without the help of The Scottish FA South East Team.

Karen McConnell, Club Development Officer for Girls’ and Women’s Football has been a big supporter of what we are trying to do at the club. We also have to thank the Scottish Football Partnership Growing the Game fund who recently awarded our 15’s team funding to cover the set up costs of our 15’s team.

“When my daughter started playing her classmates thought she was weird because she played football. Two years later most of her classmates were at the club.”

Rab was also keen to praise a number of people who have helped through-out his time. “Our Club President Scott Robertson and the board at Musselburgh Windsor FC have also been very supportive of the Girls Section and show a keen interest in its development. The volunteer coaches that we have, and more importantly the coaches’ wives who have to put up with them constantly talking about the teams and being out of the house, deserve a big thank you.

“A special thank you also has to go to my right hand man Mike Windram, who despite having just recovered from two heart attacks in the past six months remains totally committed to the girls section.”

The hard work doesn’t stop here either.

Rab has big plans for the future of the girls’ side. “We as a club need to attract at least 6 new coaches by the start of next season” he said. “This will allow us to have a team at each age group, and at some even two. As well, the big aim is to have a ladies team by the 2018 season.”

ISSUE 1

19

CENTRAL REGION

CENTRAL REGION

Girls & Women’s Game AUTHOR: KERRY KENNEDY The growth of the Girls and Women’s game in the Central region has been fantastic over the past few years, with more clubs and more players than we’ve ever had before. More importantly, the standard of clubs has improved greatly with a higher number of full pathway clubs now emerging which improves their sustainability, enabling girls to play from a very early age through to adulthood.

Over the winter period, Central region clubs took part in 10 weeks of indoor festivals for the 9’s and 1’s1 age groups. The long winter break from November to March is when we see the biggest drop out in girls’ football, so these festivals ensured teams still had activity throughout the off-season. Not only did it allow clubs to retain a higher percentage of players than previous years but we also saw a vast improvement in the teams taking part.

The number of teams we now have at the 9’s and 11’s age groups is incredible and is by far the area of the game with the most significant growth. This increase has allowed us to introduce a format of noncompetitive weekly fixtures this season, preparing teams for the step into structured leagues at 13’s level.

Clubs understand the importance of introducing girls to the game at an early age to prepare them for competitive football, and the Central ‘Leanne Ross’ 13’s league is already benefiting from the growth of the game at the younger age groups.

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Although we’re only a few weeks into the season, it’s already clear that this will be a close and competitive league which is great to see.

It has also been very encouraging to see more teams at 17’s level this year, as it’s an area that we’ve always struggled with in the past. The growth across the region would not happen without the great volunteers and coaches at clubs who always go that extra mile to make things happen.

The main focus area at this point is supporting new clubs such as Milngavie and Syngenta to establish girls’ activity through school to club links.

Interest in the girls and women’s game is growing, with a vast number of clubs now interested in developing a girls section. We aim to provide opportunities across the region for females of all ages and ability, ensuring everyone is catered for. Clubs are beginning to develop adult participation centres and other programmes such as walking football and disability classes which cater for females. Supporting the development of these areas of the game is vital to make football a game for all, which is our ultimate aim.

For more information on anything discussed, visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/secondary. cfm?page=2672 or you can contact me directly via email on Kerry.Kennedy@scottishfa.co.uk or call 01786 467165

CENTRAL REGI

In December 2014 a new girls football club was born called Bedlay Community FC. With no kit, no training facilities and only eight footballs, Debbie Horn, founder of the club, saw it as a “blank canvas”.

Four months later it’s hard to comprehend the incredible transformation to what is now a Scottish FA Standard Quality Mark club.

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Bedlay Community FC

Bedlay Community FC In December 2014 a new girls football club was born called Bedlay Community FC. With no kit, no training facilities and only eight footballs, Debbie Horn, founder of the club, saw it as a “blank canvas”. Four months later it’s hard to comprehend the incredible transformation to what is now a Scottish FA Standard Quality Mark club.

“We have full playing kit and full training kit for all the girls” said Debbie. “We also have training facilities and two dozen footballs, as well both Facebook and Twitter pages up and running.”

It’s not just on the pitch that Debbie has grown and promoted Belday either. “We now have a strong committee of five and three sponsors” she said. “We also have engaged with our local business group ‘Chryston & Muirhead Business Community’ and also the community hub for sports through the ‘Active Schools Co-ordinator for North Lanarkshire, Ross Sweeney.”

But what drives someone to put in such time and effort? “My son plays football for our local boys team in Moodiesburn and whilst watching my son was great, I wanted to get back into football” said Debbie. “I felt I could offer something to the girls game in our area, as other than Cumbernauld Colts there were no other established girls teams in and around Moodiesburn, Chryston, and surrounding areas.”

It’s clear as well the desire from the local community to have a girls team. In four months, Bedlay Community FC now has 31 girls involved at under 7’s, 9’s, and 11’s. For Debbie, it’s not about the numbers though.

“It gives me great satisfaction, when I see how much the girls have come on in such a short space of time both in their own development and as a team” she said.

“They inspire me with their enthusiasm. I enjoy the interaction with the girls, seeing their smiles when they achieve their goals or complete a new skill they thought they couldn’t do. After a hectic day at work I always look forward to training.”

“One of our six year old girls recently said ‘its fun at football training.’ That’s equally true for me as a coach, ‘it’s fun, plain, and simple’”.

Creating and growing a football club can’t simply be done by one person alone though and Debbie was keen to note down the support she has received.

“Firstly, the support of the Scottish FA Central Region has been invaluable, in particular Kerry Kennedy” she said. “I had no experience in the admin side of running a football team, and so a lot of homework and research went into it and with their guidance and support we were up and running.

coaches Georgie Rafferty who in her spare five minutes (as an U19 Scotland player and juggling exams) finds the time to inspire our girls and most recently, Stuart Cameron who as well coaching his own team at Rob Roy gives up his time for the girls at training.”

It’s thanks to this support and Debbie’s effort that Bedlay is now a Scottish FA Standard Quality Mark Club which was awarded last month.

If this is the transformation in just four months, it’s not surprising that Debbie has grand plans for the club.

“We want to be at the heart of our community and to create a vibrant, thriving community football club which will cater initially for girls of all ages and abilities” she said. “We have an opportunity here to nurture and encourage the development of our girls to be the best they can be, not just as a player but as a person and if we have a hand in creating an international player along the way then that would be a bonus!

“We gained three sponsors and a big thank you has to go to them. ‘Gerald & Sandra Kelly of GK Scaffolding Supplies Ltd’, ‘William Ormsby of Nicol & Andrew (MPSE) Ltd and to Stephen Ross Accountancy.

“Hopefully we can progress our girls right through to playing into adulthood and into the Womens game. We also continue to grow our girls section by encouraging more girls to come and give football a try and hopefully join our club. We will always value every individual at our club for their contribution.

“To the parents for their support and of course my committee members, Sharon Gillespie, Donna Aitken, Abbie Cockburn and to Sandra Kelly who have been a great support. Not forgetting also my fellow

“We have a fantastic future ahead of us.

Whether this remains to be just girls or perhaps includes the wider community such as disability and/or over 50’s, who knows.

We are a young club with a bright future.”

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SCOTTISH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL SOUTH WEST REGION

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Girls’ and Women’s Football SOUTH WEST Region SHIRLEY MARTIN off as well with the highest number of Over the past three years we have seen significant growth in the girls and South West teams involved to date. We currently have 16 age 13’s teams, three of womens game in the South West Region. these teams play in the Cross-Region Kim The number of players, clubs, teams Little League with the remaining 13 and volunteers have all seen a teams playing in the regional Eilish substantial increase. I’ve mainly been working with existing McSorley League. At the 15’s age group we currently have clubs to create strong and six registered teams all of sustainable pathways and T whom play in the crossto ensure that all girls in N A T R O P region Jennifer Beattie the South West have an M I S League. We also have six opportunity to play football DATE l registered teams at the a for a local club. in F p Cu 17’s age group, all of the L e a g u e st J u n e th /21 South West 17’s teams play The South West 9’s and 11’s 20 in the cross-region Gemma Fay season kicked-off on Sunday League.

8th March at Kilwinning Sports Club with a regional festival. Over 130 For more information on anything girls took part on the day and kicked off discussed, visit what is sure to be a great season. The www.scottishfa.co.uk/secondary. girls will now play weekly fixtures in either cfm?page=2676 or you can contact me the Ayrshire or Lanarkshire Leagues until directly via email on the next regional festival. shirley.martin@scottishfa.co.uk or call 01294 317415.

The SWF youth leagues have now kicked

Kilwinning Sports Club Pic: Kelly Neilson

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hen Mick Baird first took his daughter along to Kilwinning Sports Club, it was clear after the first training session that there was “no structure to sessions or player development” for the nine girls. Not to be put off, Mick took up the opportunity to take the team and to transform its fortunes.

“I was keen for my daughter to be afforded the same opportunities in football that local boys had” he said. “I was determined to provide a more structured setup for the younger girls at Kilwinning.”

“When I started there was three individual girls’ teams at KSC, my team, another 11’s team and a 13’s team. These teams were run separately from each other with the individual coaches rather than be controlled by a joint committee. These other two teams subsequently ceased leaving my team the only remaining youth team operating at the sports club. At this point I had nine players.”

“I was keen though to expand the section to have representation at all age groups operating under the same committee and training together to establish a true and proper player pathway. At the beginning of the 2015 season we were fortunate to be in the position to have representation by the way of three 9’s teams, 10’s, 11’s, 12’s, 13’s and ladies. Several girls in the 15’s & 17’s age groups attend training as we continually try to recruit additional players at this age group to complete the player pathway.”

Kilmarnock Girls 13’s Pic: Kelly Neilson

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Shirley Martin

As of last month KSC Girls had 85 girls under its banner, an incredible transformation from the nine in 2011. “I have a total of 15 coaches

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“I honestly can’t thank all the South West staff enough as without all their help I wouldn’t have been fortunate to be awarded the South West Regional Grassroots Volunteer of the year followed by the McDonalds and Sunday Mail National Volunteer of the year in girls’ football and for that I will always be indebted to them.

“My wife Pamela has been my biggest individual support over the past four years as the daily tasks that go along with my role at KSC Girls accompanied with my full time job as a police officer for Police Scotland takes up a lot of time and she has always assisted and supported me from day one.

More than just a girls’ club volunteering in my section” said Mick. “All of them are qualified to a minimum of level 1 youth with several of them enrolled to attend further courses when they arise. All of these coaches are parents within my teams as parental help in any environment is invaluable.

I also have several parent helpers who form part of the KSC Girls committee.”

“Ultimately I enjoy seeing all the girls having fun, seeing them feeling part of something with all their teammates. When you get that new girl who doesn’t know anyone or hasn’t played any sports before and after a short period of time you see that big change in her personality. Her feeling part of our club and most importantly friends with all her teammates.

“From my coaches’ point of view that is extremely important because if they feel part of everything and comfortable with their teammates they will be happier and that is what we strive for. We want the girls to be happy playing their football. All our girls are encouraged to engage with all new players and to make them feel welcome.”

Mick also noted the help he has received through-out his time. “The support by the staff at Kilwinning Sports Club has been invaluable as through their hard work they have built a facility that is renowned through the region” he said. “This allows everyone

using Kilwinning Sports Club the opportunity to train and play on the best possible facilities.

The support was further increased by my recent invitation to become a member of the board of directors, this has been invaluable as it allows me to see first-hand the day to day running’s of the club and provides me with the opportunity to implement ideas that will ultimately benefit the girls of KSC Girls Football Academy.

“The Scottish FA South West team led by John Brown have been instrumental over the past few years in the rise of KSC Girls Football Academy. Through their continual guidance and assistance I have been able to build the section I now have.

Mick Baird

“Many times they have assisted by going above and beyond I am sure what their daily tasks are and for that I will always be indebted to them. From day one Craig Hamilton and Shirley Martin have been a massive influence to all my coaches and players. They have always been on hand to provide advice and guidance on any matter that arises and when most of your junior players know them on first name terms, which gives you an indication just how committed to their roles they both are.

Towards the future, Mick’s vision is simple, saying “First and foremost is for the girls to enjoy being part of the setup. For them to learn and develop as players and to have fun while doing so. My aim is to develop a true player pathway to enable a girl of any age who is interested in playing football an opportunity to join up with any one of my teams and also to actively encourage parents to come on board as committee members or coaches.

“In the past I have seen first-hand clubs inviting girls along for trials and thereafter informing them they are unsuccessful. This is a practice that from day one I have refused to adopt. All girls have the right to learn to play football and should not be refused access to a team due to lack of ability. All girls regardless of ability are welcome at my club and they will be given the same level of training and games as the more experienced players.

“I have also now obtained ownership of two buildings at Kilwinning Sports Club.

The work is ongoing as we speak and should be complete pending on KSC Girls sourcing external funding. This will provide my girls with their own base which will include kitchen, kit room and youth club which will operate separately from training nights.

On completion of this project it will change things for KSC Girls Football Academy as it certainly takes us up to that next level. I will be keen to actively seek organisations – Police, SFA, Fire and Health Care to attend and deliver workshops to the girls to help them in other areas rather than just football. Our project has been afforded the title “KSC Girls Football Academy – More than just a Girls football club.”

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WEST REGION

WEST REGION Leanne with Morton boss Kenny Shiels

WEST REGION

seeing all the hard work pay off. Seeing girls who have been involved since they were 10 develop as players and be able to challenge at the top of the league is a great feeling. Generally I enjoy being part of it and seeing coaches become more confident, older players getting involved with younger age groups, players developing in a positive environment and learning life skills like decision making, resilience, leadership and team work.

“My role as Head of Morton Girls is very time consuming and on top of my full time job gives me very little free time but is also very rewarding and something as simple as seeing a player perfect a new skill makes it all worthwhile.”

Leanne with Warren Hawke carrying the Commonwealth torch

Morton Girls

MORTON GIRLS LEANNE MCPHAIL In January 2014, Greenock Morton perhaps made one their best buys of the season in the form of Leeanne McPhail. Local to the area and with a passion for improving the girls game, it seemed like a match made in heaven. “I played a little when I was younger but there were limited opportunities in the Inverclyde area” she said.

“When I started studying sport I decided that I would try and change that so that there were opportunities for girls in the future.

“Having been involved in Girls Football in the area for many years and having experience establishing teams at various age groups I had discussions with Morton Community.

They are the charitable arm of Greenock Morton Football Club and already had participation sessions at 9 and 11 level. I knew after initial discussions that the club were ambitious and supportive of girls football and had a long term vision.

“The ambition of Warren Hawke and Tom Elliott at that time made up my mind that I wanted to be part of that vision and give the girls every chance to be the best that they can be.”

Over a year later and the progress under

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Leeanne has been extraordinary, both on and off the park. “At Morton Community Trust we now have teams at 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and in two years’ time we will have a senior team” she said.

Leeanne was also quick to point out the support she has received. “Club consultant Warren Hawke has had a massive influence and had the vision to build Morton Girls before I became involved as Head of Morton Girls” she said. “Since my involvement he and the Morton Community Trust team of Karen Welsh, Tom Elliott, and now Brian McLaughlin who has taken over from Tom have been instrumental in the development of Morton Girls and I’m sure with their continued support we can go from strength to strength.

“I’d say just as importantly the coaches who have volunteered their time, the players who have worked hard and the parents who support everything that we do have been vital and their work is very much appreciated.

“The Scottish FA in the West region have also been a massive support to us. Corrie Campbell has been a great support and whether it is advice, knowledge, links to National pathways or anything else she is always at the end of the phone to provide support.

“I enjoy seeing all the hard work pay off.

Seeing girls develop as players and be able to challenge at the top of the league is a great feeling.

“We are now a recognised name in Girls Football and in our first season as Morton Girls we had success in two tournaments, our U15s reached a semi-final and were runners up in the Jenny Beattie League. This was more than we could’ve ever imagined as our aim in our first year was to successfully establish teams and ensure a positive ethos throughout the age groups.

“At Morton Community Trust there are also participation centres from age 2 that girls can get involved in which gives us a great foundation for getting girls involved. This means that across all age groups we have 80 players regularly involved.”

Unsurprisingly, this work has taken a lot of time, but Leeanne knows it’s worth it, saying “I enjoy

“The whole West region team have been great. Whether it’s advice and help with coach education, league admin support or just general enquiries they’ve been a good support to us.”

Leeanne’s hope for the future is bold, but simple. “I’d like every girl in Inverclyde to have the opportunity to play football” she said. “In the future I’d like us to have teams competing at every age group but to also have provision for girls who just want to participate and develop, but are maybe not ready to play games. I’d like to also complete the pathway with the addition of a senior team but at the moment this is planned for season 2017 when our existing 17s team move up so there will be natural progression.”

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Celtic Girls 15’s

Pic: Kelly Neilson

Celtic Girls 15’s

Rangers Girl’s vs Glasgow City 17’s

Girls’ and Women’s Football WEST Region CORRIE CAMPBELL has allowed the girls game to flourish. We concentrated in growing our 9 and 11 activity when I first started as there was no girls’ football in the region for this age group. We are now seeing the benefits of this growth with the increase in the number of teams and leagues at our 13 and 15 age groups. It is important that I continue to work with clubs to grow the children’s age group so we have a broad base of girls participating and IMPORT ANT DA have the skills to continue TES Girls Leag lifelong participation in our ue Cup F in Sunday 2 th 0 June, To als game. ryglen 9’s & 11’s fe

The creation of the six regional Scottish FA Girls’/Women’s Club Development Officer posts was made possible thanks to support from Cashback for Communities. The officers’ key areas of work impact directly on the Scottish FA’s strategic goal of “Strong Quality Growth” by delivering sustainable participation in the girls’ and women’s game.

Through working closely with local grassroots football clubs to develop their infrastructure and increase the opportunities for girls/women to regularly participate in club activity from a young age.

stival activity 13’s Final - 10.30 Ki- 9.00 - 10.00 15’s Final - 13.30 Ki ck Off ck Off

I have been working closely with clubs and the local Football Development Officers to grow the game. In 2012 there were eight clubs in the West Region mainly offering women’s football in the region. We now have over 25 clubs offering girls and women’s football whether it be playing in teams or offering participation centres.

Corrie Campbell

Due to the passion of our grassroots community clubs to grow a female section this

The youth leagues (13-17) have already kicked off in the region. The female game runs from March until November with a break in July. Our outdoor activity for the 9’s and 11’s age groups is now underway too, having kicked off in April.

For more information visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/secondary. cfm?page=2675 or you can contact me directly via email on corrie.campbell@scottishfa.co.uk or call 0141 840 5257

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Fluendo’s LongoMatch expands into Scotland with Glasgow Girls Football Club Fluendo is delighted to announce its expansion into Scotland with Glasgow Girls FC (GGFC) through provision of its LongoMatch video analysis.

GGFC is a Scottish Football Association ‘Community’ Quality Mark Club based in the East-End of Glasgow. The club began with twelve young girls and one coach competing in the Scottish Women’s Football League u13s. Seven years later, the club now has over 200 registered girls playing football in a safe and structured environment.

Edward Gallagher Club Development Coach commented on the partnership about the importance of video analysis “For me personally it is very important.

I was hired by the club at the end of 2014 and I recognized that using video analysis would help take

GGFC and their players to the next level. Being able to look for trends in our play, re-watch our games and provide specific feedback to our players at training makes it very important to my coaching.”

Commenting on the benefits of LongoMatch Gallagher stated “I believe that the programme itself is beneficial for me as it is relatively easy to use and also makes coding a game a little bit quicker than using other programmes in the market” David Mascioni, Marketing Manager of Fluendo added “Our new partnership with Glasgow Girls FC is a first in Scotland and we are delighted to be continuing our growth into new markets. We look forward to seeing the benefits LongoMatch brings to GGFC”

About Fluendo / LongoMatch

About Glasgow Girls FC

Founded in 2004 in Barcelona, Fluendo (www. fluendo.com) is an international company that enables multimedia and video on a wide variety of devices and operating systems. The company recently acquired LongoMatch (www.longomatch.org), a cross-platform software tool that lets users perform real-time analysis on sports game video feeds.

Glasgow Girls Football Club (GGFC) is a Scottish Football Association ‘Community’ Quality Mark Club based in the East-End of Glasgow. GGFC were established in 2008 by Club Chairperson Jim Strathdee. The club began with twelve young girls and one coach competing in the Scottish Women’s Football League u13s.

LongoMatch software lets users tag plays, review portions of a live game in slow motion and create post-match analysis, all adaptable to a variety of video formats.

Seven years later, the club now has over 200 registered girls playing football in a safe and structured environment. GGFC currently operates three different departments in order to offer football to different age and ability ranges.

The software also lets users review tagged events ingame and lets them export the clips while still analyzing the game live. It is currently available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.

LongoMatch was nominated as one of the 10 best sports analysis systems in the world in the 2013 Performance Video Analysis Software Guide and is currently used all over the world by amateur and professional sports teams including the Belgium national World Cup football team and the Spanish national handball federation.

-Community Football -Youth Football -Senior Football Glasgow Girls FC currently run teams at u7, u9, u11, u13, u15, u17, u20 and senior level, whilst also operating school programmes and community coaching clubs.

The whole club are based at GGFC home facility, Budhill Park based in Glasgow.

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JAMES MCFADDEN

THE GOAL THAT INSPIRED A

“It was late in the second half and I had been playing up front on my own. It was tiring and chances were few and far between. As the ball came to me, I was ready to turn on it and knew I was going to shoot if nobody was pressing me. I turned, took a touch, and then luckily for me I caught it perfectly.”

You don’t need to be a football anorak to tell which goal James McFadden is referring to. It is without a doubt the most iconic Scotland national team goal of the last decade. That night in Paris was the pinnacle of a career, which began taking shape nearly twenty years earlier.

off. We were playing brilliant football, winning all sorts of competitions and enjoying ourselves.

“I was also playing for the Glasgow Schools select squad. Chris Burke was in the team and I remember being impressed by his talent. Even then, you could tell he had a great chance of making it at the highest level.

McFadden was given the opportunity to move to Hearts and he grasped it, signing schoolboy forms with the Edinburgh club.

However, Hearts required him to give up boys club football – something the hungry young winger wasn’t prepared to do, so he returned to his boys club and to Motherwell.

A few years later he broke through to the Well first team and the rest is history.

“I first began playing organised football when I was about 7. I went along to Celtic North Boys Club, but they only had an Under 10s team. This meant I could only train, but I went along every week anyway. It did me good to play with lads a few years older than me.

“I progressed to playing with Celtic Boys Club and then went to Motherwell when I was around 12. At the time, you could play with your boys club at the weekend and with the pro club midweek. I kept playing with my boys club and moved onto West Park United.

“It was at West Park that I worked with one of my favourite coaches, Bert Rowan. Bert, who sadly passed away whilst I was still at the club, loved the Dutch ‘Total Football’. He worked you hard on the training ground, but it paid

“I was playing for West Park and it was a league deciding game against one of our rivals. We had been working on a short corner routine at training all season. Although it was a big match, we gave it a shot. A couple of passes and the ball was worked to me on the angle of the area. I had a shot and it went in, which gave us the league title.”

When asked if it was anything like his winning goal against Holland in 2003, McFadden modestly shrugs, “aye, now you mention it, I suppose it was similar.”

Before bringing the interview to a close, we couldn’t resist asking one last time about THAT goal.

“We had been training in the stadium the night before and, at international level, you play with the chosen footballs of the home team. The balls the French had selected were moving everywhere. I thought to myself – ‘if I get the chance to shoot tomorrow, I’m going for it’.

“It was a tough game and France were coming on strong as they pushed for the winner. I’d been putting in a fair shift up front by myself and was beginning to tire. I knew if a chance for a shot came along, I was going to have a hit. The goal kick was a lengthy one and the French player misjudged it.

James McFadden in his Motherwell days Pic: Tom Finnie

James went onto a successful and exciting, at both club and international level. However, McFadden still places one moment from his youth career alongside any moment of glory from his professional years.

“My first touch was decent, it killed the ball and allowed me to swivel. I took a touch out in front and it looked like the centre half was going to charge, but he backed off. Then I hit it.”

And in one strike of a football a nation erupted with joy and a generation of young Scottish players started to dream.

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5 YOUTH GOALS ames McFadden’s goal was one of a kind, there is no doubting that.

The stage, the shot, the euphoria of a nation.

However, every weekend on public playing fields across Scotland, there is a McFaddenesque moment.

These goals aren’t seen by millions, but those who do witness them in the flesh, are unlikely to ever forget them.

Here are five special goals from Scottish youth football, which YFS were lucky enough to capture on camera.

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TOP 5 YOUTH GOALS

1

Erin Cuthbert

Rangers FC vs Hibernian FC (17’s Girls) 9th Nov 2013

Erin Cuthbert now plays for Glasgow City’s first team.

The same team that recently reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Womens Champions League.

In 2013 she was a 15 year old, playing her final match before graduating from youth football, to play in the Rangers first team at that tender age.

Rangers faced Hibernian in the final of the Scottish Cup at Toryglen. It was stalemate and Cuthbert’s time to shine.

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Erin said: “It was 0-0 at the time and Hibs were all over us so when I got the ball 30 yards out I thought I’d try to make something happen.

“I nearly lost the ball on the edge of the box and when I finally did get a sight of goal, I thought about smashing it but ended up using the outside of my right foot instead.

“I had a mini-panic because it looked like it was going to miss but it hit the post and went in. The feeling was incredible”

Dean Burgess

Edina Hibs vs Rangers SABC (U13’s) 11th May 2014

Playing in a Scottish Cup final is something most players will never experience. To reach the final at the very first time of asking – Under 13 level – is the stuff dreams are made of.

However, some players aren’t content to let the dream end there, and Dean Burgess of Edina Hibs is certainly one of them. With the game being fiercely contested in true East vs West fashion, he picked up the ball forty yards from goal

and made one of the best decisions he’ll make in his life.

Dean said: “I looked and saw the keeper off his line.

I took my touch and just went for the goal. When it happened I was so amazed, stunned and delighted to score in the Scottish Cup final.

“It was such a good feeling to watch it back, remember it and make my family proud.

It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

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TOP 5 YOUTH GOALS

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Farreid Yassein

Hutchison Vale vs Musselburgh Windsor (U13’s) 5th May 2012

The Under 13 Scottish Cup final. A match which sees two teams of twelve year olds take on the massive playing arena of the Excelsior Stadium, which is more accustomed to hosting the home games of Airdrieonians FC in Scotland’s senior professional ranks. Very few teams take to it like a fish to water, but on this sunny day in May there was an exception.

took the lead on the counter attack. You would expect a team of boys who hadn’t reached their teens to panic, but not this side. They stuck to their principles and were soon rewarded.

Hutchison Vale’s U13 squad took to the field with the philosophy that has served Barcelona so well in recent years. Pass, move, pass, move. The ball was zipped about mesmerizingly and barely left the floor. However, despite impressing the crowd with the style of play, Vale just couldn’t score. And it went from bad to worse when Musselburgh Windsor

“There was some passing in the build up and I just remember making the run and Euan chipping the ball through and smashing as hard as I could.

Farreid said: “We were 1-0 down but managed to stay calm as we had so much belief in each other.

“I thought I was offside at first but then looked over saw I wasn’t and just went mental with the rest of the boys. I still get goosebumps when I watch it back.”

Jordan Tapping

Larbert Athletic vs Rossvale Milan (U17’s) 25th May 2013

Jordan Tapping has now, at the age of 19, already player over 20 professional league matches for East Stirlingshire.

However, in May of 2013, the football world just knew him as the ‘wee brother’ of Calum Tapping – who had recently made his first team breakthrough for Heart of Midlothian. There was only one brother who would be grabbing the headlines on this weekend, and he played for Forth Valley outfit Larbert Athletic.

Larbert had shocked a few so far this season. In a modern day setup where most youth clubs have teams from mini kickers to Under 21s, Larbert’s squad of 1996 born players were flying solo. They had beaten many fancied sides, including

last season’s finalists Tynecastle, to reach the latter stages of the Scottish Cup. And they had reached the final of the Central Region Cup, taking place at Broadwood Stadium. With just under 20 minutes on the clock, Calum seized his moment.

Calum: “We won the free kick quite far out, so my first intention whilst I was standing over the ball was to cross it into the box.

“However, as I looked up I saw that despite the distance, it was a great position to have a shot. So I put my head down and smashed it towards goal. Luckily I caught it perfectly and it went in. Next thing I knew I had been mobbed by my team mates.

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Jamie Reid

Tower Hearts vs Tynecastle FC (U21’s) 9th February 2013

Jamie Reid currently plies his trade in the USA, after gaining a scholarship with University of Maine in New England. In 2013, he was coming towards the end of his youth football journey with Tower Hearts Under 21s from the East End of Glasgow.

The Lady Darling Cup is a competition for sides that drop out of the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle. The Europa League of Scottish grassroots football. Little did Tower know, that their first round heartache in August would turn into joy the following May, as they lifted the prestigious trophy.

Faced with a tough draw away to Tynecastle, the match was on a knife edge midway through the second half. After a rabona pass and some tiki-taka football, the ball fell to the feet of the Tower skipper.

Jamie said: “Drawing 1-1 and on the back foot at this point of the game it looked like we were going to need something special to go through.

“Finally all the two touch maximum at training enforced by the coaches paid off exactly how they wanted. Colin with a great piece of skill then some quick football before the ball came to me where I had the option to find a pass or take the shot. Thankfully the latter paid off as I managed to place the ball into the roof of the net over a stranded keeper.

“Being captain and scoring the winning goal as a result of a great team move was a great accomplishment.”

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TOURNAMENT GUIDE

Tournament guide

Across Scotland, throughout the summer months, a series of tournaments sweep the country. Fun fours, soccer sevens and full size 11-a-side events take place in each of Scotland’s six football regions.

Below is a list of what is coming up, for more details on each and how to apply visit youthfootballscotland.co.uk/tournaments

May 30th-31st • Moorlands Festival

• Kildrum Football Festival, Cumbernauld • Lenzie YC 11s Festival

14th • Scottish Youth Champions League, Port Glasgow

AUGUST 1st-2nd • Scottish Sun Soccer 7s, Paisley • Craigshill Thistle Festival

6th-10th

JUNE 20th-21st

• Loch Lomond Tournament, Stirling

5th-7th

• Annan Athletic Festival

7th-8th

• Arthurlie Juniors Festival, Barrhead

• Kildrum Football Festival, Cumbernauld

• Jim Hastie Festival, Dundee (Hosted by Fairmuir BC)

21st-22nd

7th-9th

6th • Spartans 2004 Festival, Spartans Academy

• Broxburn Tournament (Boys)

6th-7th

• AM Soccer Tournament, St Andrews • Barrhead Festival • Glasgow City Cup, Renfrew

• Carbrain BC Tournament, Cumbernauld

27th

• Giffnock SC Festival

• Cowie United Festival

8th

7th

27th-28th

8th-9th

• EK Caledonian Thistle Football Festival

• Broxburn Tournament (Girls)

• Cumbernauld Colts Festival

13th-14th • Armadale Falcons 7s

22th-23th

JULY

• Renfrew Victoria Festival • Holytown Colts Festival • Raemonn Gormley Memorial Festival (Hosted by Blantyre SA)

• Calderbraes Festival, Hamilton

15th-19th • Denis Law Tournament

• Dumbarton Riverside Festival

For more details on each and how to apply visit: youthfootballscotland.co.uk/tournaments ISSUE 1

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NORTH REGION

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North West Skye U15’s

East United U16’s

Uist and Barra

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Portree U18’s

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YOUTH FOOTBALL

IN THE HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS Inverness Street League (U14s) and Youth League (U16s)

to be between Fraserburgh FC and Clachnacuddin FC. Teams competing this year are...

The Inverness Street League & Youth League take place at Under 14 & Under 16 level respectively for teams from Inverness and the surrounding areas.

The season runs throughout the summer months. Within both age groups there are two cup competitions, a 6/7 a side tournament and the league itself.

East: Fraserburgh FC, Cove Rangers, Deveronvale, Banks O’Dee, Keith FC, Huntly FC, Inverurie Locos, Formartine United and Turriff United.

Competing in the Inverness Street League are Balloan Rovers, Balloan Athletic, Balloan Fury, Merkinch, Kinmylies United, Kingsmills Thistle, Duncan Forbes and Thistle Colts.

The Inverness Youth League comprises of Balloan Rovers, Balloan Athletic, Raigmore Rovers, Raigmore United, Thistle Colts, Stratton Thistle, Beauly, Duncan Forbes, Raigmore Athletic and Merkinch.

Orkney Youth Development Group Youth football in Orkney is packed with year round play. Regular indoor and outdoor festivals, in addition to challenge matches with Shetland.

Competing in the Winter League at Under 14 level are East United, Stromness YFC, Thorfinn and Dounby.

Reigning champions are: East United U16 Stromness YFC U14

Scottish Highland Football League Besides the Club Academy Scotland opportunities at Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the Scottish Highland Football League is the top level of football available to local players. The Under 17 setup consists of two regional groups, with the winners of each playing off for the league championship. Reigning champions are Keith FC, but this year’s final is set

North: Clachnacuddin FC, Wick Academy, Alness United, Brora Rangers, Nairn County, Forres Mechanics, Buckie Thistle, Lossiemouth FC, Strathspey Thistle.

Skye and Lochalsh Junior FA There’s no shortage of football in offer in Skye and Lochalsh. Regular festivals and tournaments take place in addition to the regular league season at Under 15 and Under 18. The Under 17 select squad has recently played challenge matches against Ross County, Heart of Midlothian and Hutchison Vale.

The teams competing in the leagues across the age groups are Portree, Broadford, Bernisdale, North West Skye, Portree and Plockton.

The reigning champions are Portree U18s and North West Skye U15s.

Uist and Barra Whilst there is no league in Uist and Barra, the Under 17 select squad traditionally enters a tournament each year (with many of the players playing in the adult league). Most recently, the team reached the final of the Costa Brava Cup.

Keith FC

To follow in part two: Caithness Boys FA Lewis & Harris Junior FA Moray Firth Youth League Ross-shire Youth League Shetland Junior FA

Stromness U14’s

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N ORT H RE G I O N

IN PICTURES Formatine FC U20’s Pic- Jamie McEachan

Lewis United U15’s Pic - Ray Millum

Aberdeen University 2nds 38

NORTH REGION IN PICTURES

Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh U 20’s

Pic- Ray Millum

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EAST REGION

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BLUE IS THE COLOUR ROBERT WILSON Some say that you need a certain mentality to be a winner.

Can the same be said of being a successful coach?

If Blue Brazil 2001’s are anything to go by, perhaps so.

John Mitchell, coach of the team and club chairman, won the Scottish Youth FA cup back in 1982 with Hill of Beath Swifts U14’s. While Blue Brazil won’t be following in his footsteps 33 years later, the East region team gave a fantastic account of themselves.

“We were very pleased to reach the quarter final of the Scottish Cup as we reached the last 16 the year before. To go one further was a big improvement for us and we narrowly lost out to Tynecastle FC, which was a bit of a disappointment for the team. We

40

certainly felt that on the day there was little between the teams.

“Overall though the team has performed really well this season.

We have secured the Fife Football Development League title and won the Fife Cup with an excellent victory over Lochgelly Albert Colts.”

“The boys have learnt that to do well we must stick together and help each other” he said. “We have a great team spirit which keeps us going throughout training and games. It is down to

this that the boys have enjoyed such success, winning the league and retaining the Fife Cup which we won last year.

“Between April and June we have been playing two or three matches a week.

It was a mammoth effort to reach our goals. And a fair bit of luck was on our side too.

“We know the strengths in our team.

Around nine of our 15 man squad have been with the club all through their youth football careers and that gives

E

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Blue Brazil U14’s

us a good team spirit and a good team ethic.”

While John’s experience and passion for the game have been a contributing factor to the team and club’s success, he was keen to make sure his fellow coaches received praise. “I would like to mention my fellow coach Ian Mauchlen and Willie Crowe, our goalkeeping coach” he said.

benefits of being at Blue Brazil are that the boys are part of a big organisation of 14 teams, from under six to under 16’s, which all train together one night a week. We think this is important for the younger ones to mingle with the older ones and it drives them on to do well.

“Ian in particular is a great help to me, he organises the lads and sets them up to play in a manner that makes them want to be winners but only through maximum effort.

Willie also works well with not only our goalkeeper but also helps the Club’s goalkeepers which is a massive help.”

“As a whole our club will continue to grow. We will be starting a new group this May for kids born in 2010 and our under 16’s will venture into under 17’s football for the first time. We’ll also be adding a new development size pitch at our ground at Venters Park in Cowdenbeath to go with our full size and sevens pitches. We hope also to maintain our Community Club status within the Quality Mark System.

John also spoke about the club’s progress in general, saying “The

“As for the 2001 team, we hope to retain the current squad in the summer

and maybe add a couple of new players, as we are always looking to improve.”

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EAST REGION IN PICTURES

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Eastvale v St John’s s U16’s

Rothes Juniors U15’s Pic: Omar Yassen

Kirkaldy YM vs Eastvale U16’s Pic: Omar Yassen

Dundee University Mens 42

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tic U1 e l h t A l l i h Cairney er s v x i n o e h West Fife P Pic: Craig McAllist

SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION SOUTH EAST REGION

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Spartans Reds U16’s

Calum O’Neil

Pic: David Brockett

SYFA REGIONAL TEAM player profile

Calum O’Neil An SYFA South East Regional squad member, Scottish Youth FA Cup winner, SYFA Inter-Regional Cup winner, Colin Greenhill Trophy winner and (at the time of writing) boasting a 100% record in the league. Not a bad season for Calum O’Neil who plays for Spartans FC Reds U16’s.

Despite an incredible season so far, the rightback is still looking to do better.

He was also keen to mention the support and inspiration his Dad and family have provided, including former Jambo Kris O’Neil. “My dad and my uncle Kris have been the biggest inspirations in football” he said. “My dad has coached me from the start and got me involved with football from a young age, so that’s been a big help.

league and have a few games in hand.”

As this magazine goes to print, Calum and Spartans face a few matches in quick succession to determine whether or not they can add the league to their cup double.

Given Calum’s experience and success, it’s no surprise he was included in the regional “My uncle Kris also played professional for squad this season. “I think one of the reasons “I feel I’ve performed well enough, but it could Hearts for a couple years, so I always wanted I’m in the team is because I made a decent be better” he said. “So far my best match was to do that myself and follow in his footsteps. first impression in the trial match” he said. “I probably the game against Fife showed the coaches that I’m willing Elite for the regional squad. I got to get forward with the attackers IN THREE SEASONS, Spartans forward a lot, eventually scoring and can still defend when I have to.

HAVE got better, got further an equaliser, and I defended pretty well throughout. I got a lot squad won their regional in cups, and finished higher The of the ball and I wasn’t misplacing conference group, before beating in the league” any of my passes.” the South West Region in the final at Toryglen, to be crowned national Calum, who began his football with the He also always tries to help me, even now, champions. second team, made his move to the Reds with my game”. after just one season. Another successful It’s also clear that Calum has put thought season and a Scottish cup semi-final later, While Calum’s positive role in the team is into his future in football, even if it’s not within Calum was scouted by Heart of Midlothian undeniable, he was quick to praise the team a professional youth set-up. “My ambition and signed for the club at the end of the overall. “In total I’ve played three seasons at for the future is to either get scouted soon season. Not bad for two seasons work.

Spartans and each season I’ve been here the or to be able to get a football scholarship in team has got better, got further in cups, and America after I leave school. That’s something “In the summer I went to play in the Foyle finished higher in the league” he said. “We my Uncle Kris has done and it does seem like Cup” he said. “It was great, but we got started extremely well this season and won a very good opportunity for me as well.” knocked out in the quarter final unfortunately. every game we played, until about a month Then a year later I returned to Spartan Reds. ago. We beat Hutchison Vale in the Scottish My Dad is one of the coaches at Spartans so Cup final and Tynecastle to win one of the ROBERT WILSON it was an easy choice for me to go there.” local cups. We have won all our games in the

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SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Bonnyrigg Rose U13’s celebrate Pic - Violet Shelley

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SOUTH EAST REGION IN PICTURES

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Gala Fairydean Rovers v Dunbar United U15’s Pic - Craig McAllister

Edinburgh South

Reds v Longniddry Pic - Robert Wil Villa Blues U19’s son

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CENTRAL REGION

CENTRAL REGION

CENTRAL REGION

Syngenta U13’s

Under 13s. The first season of 11-a-side and the first season of competitive football.

It’s a tricky transition for even the most confident of young players. From the small sided nature of Soccer Sevens to bigger pitches, bigger goals and four more team mates to pick out with a pass. However, one team have taken to it like a duck to water.

Earlier this season, I was fortunate enough to catch up with Ian Munro, one half of the Syngenta U13 coaching staff.

Amongst other topics, we discussed the ethos of which all Syngenta coaches endeavour to instil in their players, how much of a bearing this has had on the U13s recent successes and what the future has in store for the team.

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Syngenta U13’s ALLANA GRANT There is one particular ethos which Ian and his colleague Frank have striven hard to hammer home to the boys since taking over the coaching roles with the U13’s a little over a year ago.

“Everything’s built around team work.

It’s all about working and passing the ball well. We teach the boys that they have to commit to training: Turn up twice a week when they’re supposed to and work hard during every session. Then they’ll see the results.”

Results are the name of the game, and on the strength of the U13s recent form, Ian and Frank’s efforts are beginning to pay dividend. However, Ian firmly believes that these, and any other successes which may come the team’s way, should be attributed to the boys themselves.

“I think it’s down to team work more than anything. The boys know that when they lose the ball; they have to work hard to get it back. We drum it in to them that they have to work hard to keep possession.”

Asked if there have been any stand out moments so far this season, Ian couldn’t help but return to the subject of his team’s excellent passing and technical abilities.

“I think it’s the moments during the season when you realise that all the hard work you do in training is paying off. The games where 10 or 12 passes end in a goal. We really do work hard in training and I’m proud of all the boys’ efforts.”

These sentiments of immense pride in the team’s performances, shone through in every answer Ian gave during our chat.

SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Clyde & Lenzie U13’s Pic - BroPros

Strathaven Academy Seniors

St Mungos HS U15’s

CENTRAL REGION

IN P IC TU R ES Syngenta U15’s

are shooting for the stars Refusing to single out any one member of the team for praise”

playing. In addition to which, we always train twice a week.”

“No, we don’t single anybody out” he said. “We’re all in it together; the players and the coaches. That’s the way we’ve always done things and that’s the way it’ll always be.”

“The aim is to win every competition we’re in. Take each game as it comes and hopefully we’ll win some trophies. The most important thing however, is to create

club’s links with the Falkirk FC Academy.

Ian very much welcomes such events, recognising the benefits they bring to the club and local community. “These events are great for promoting the club as a whole” he said.” There’s always a lot going on here. In fact, we have more than 300 kids playing for us at the minute.

I’m not exactly sure what our particular involvement will be because I haven’t heard from the event organisers yet, but it’s always great to promote the club.”

“We’re all in it together; the players and the coaches. That’s the way we’ve always done things and that’s the way it’ll always be.”

According to Ian, Syngenta should be well placed, in spite of the dire weather of late, saying “Postponements due to bad weather can slow down a team’s momentum to a certain degree I suppose. It is usually away games that are cancelled for us though so we always try to arrange friendly matches in their place at our own ground.

lots of good memories for these young boys. After all most of them are only 12 years old.”

“We’ve got great facilities at Little Kerse.

We play plenty of friendlies so the team doesn’t ever really go a weekend without

Sandwiched amongst the hectic fixture schedule was April’s Syngenta day at the Falkirk Stadium. This event celebrated the

At the time of writing, Syngenta have secured the league title and a cup victory over Gairdoch United. They still have three cup finals to play, with Jimmy Johnstone Academy, Kirkshaws Colts and Airdrieonians BC standing in the way of an unprecedented quintuple. An exciting June beckons for these young players. Who would bet against them pulling it off?

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SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

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KSC Town U17’s celebrate cup victory Troon YFC U19’s Pic - Susie Raeburn

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Acrobatics from Wolves U14’s Winlinton

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SOUTH WEST REGION

SOUTH WEST REGION

SOUTH

Bonnyton Thistle vs Glenafton U16’s Pic: Ryan Rowe

Bonnyton in full bloom RYAN ROWE The sun is bursting out of a clear blue sky, showing no fear as the clouds part in its wake. 149,600,000 kilometres below, a dozen kids are bursting up and down a fine green football pitch, showing no fear as they dribble past multiple cones, leaving them in their wake.

This is Bonnyton Thistle’s Easter training camp, which has been running over the two week break at this time of year for the last two years at Bonnyton Park. It offers youngsters as young as five the chance to exploit the sun that bears down on them as spring transitions to summer, and what better way to do it than with a ball at their feet?

The pitch is currently being graced by, among others: a four foot tall Neymar, a blonde-haired, female James Rodriguez and a red-haired lad in a Scotland kit (some things never change). It’s quite literally a rainbow on display at Bonnyton Park, and Club President Ian Higgins would have it no different.

“We have 350 kids within the club and

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we felt like we needed to do something to keep them active over the Easter period.

“We’ve had younger ones coming through from our Minikickers programmes at 2009s and 2008s and they’ve been different class all week.

This is an older age group and it’s been good. Hopefully now the kids can take this into their own training.”

Ian is clearly proud of what the club has put on, and he gives credit to those who gave up their time to help out with coaching: the club’s own players at under 16 and under 19 level, as well as some of the other coaches. Ian says this approach helps to pass on ideas right through the club, to try and get all ages playing the same way. In case that approach sounds familiar then yes, it’s because Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam are the two chief proponents of the same philosophy. While the Champions League status those two boast might be difficult to achieve, Bonnyton has set itself targets to continue moving forward and developing as a club, both on and off the field.

We’ve managed to shade ourselves away from the fun in the sun for a few minutes and we chat in Thistle’s fully functioning tea bar. The tea bar is an achievement in itself but so is the artificial pitch – both were just early stepping stones to the club being awarded Legacy status by the SFA last year. Colin Kennedy, Club Trustee said that: “Gaining the Legacy Award has been a great achievement for the club, especially to be the first grassroots club to receive the award in East Ayrshire “A lot of people have spent a lot of their own time co-ordinating and participating in coaching courses and leading community projects to achieve the standard required by the SFA.” The club has coaching numbers in the triple-digits, helped by two coaching co-ordinators in Grant Gallagher and Scott Galloway, and everyone is buying into a philosophy that is beneficial to the players and to the community, something evidenced by the club being awarded charity status last year.

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Plans for the facility have been bubbling away for over two years. Late last year they came to the boil as work started on the grass plains behind Kilmarnock College’s sports facilities. To ensure the club ticked all the right boxes and was deserving of the necessary aid to be granted this space, there has been a tremendous amount of hard work involved. Sponsorship partnerships with the likes of McDonald’s and their renowned grassroots programme emphasise this. A glance at Ian’s desk in his office suggests everything is supremely organised – but it hasn’t been plain sailing.

“Over the past two years I’ve probably been doing more hours at Bonnyton Thistle than I have at my own day job.

“We’ve had meetings with all the external funders to make this vision that we have over at Townholm come into play.”

Kennedy, a coach in his own right, acknowledges the hard work of many people behind the scenes.

Bonnyton Thistle U13’s

One of the community projects is the Easter camp we see outside and the Bonnyton Thistle Fun Day in 2014 was another huge success.

Over a cuppa we watch the next crop of Sam McCloskey’s being put through their paces at some 1v1s and 2v2s.

McCloskey played under Ian’s tutelage for two years, winning a Scottish Cup in the process and is now on the books at Stranraer FC. (You can relive his goals and the team’s 2013 win here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=ClkFMZ2le14).

Indeed, “Bonnyton Thistle” and “the Scottish Youth FA Cup” is a combination that has been as common as chips and cheese in the nearby Bonnyton Cafe. The club has fielded a side for every planet in the solar system (including Pluto) in Scottish Cup finals over the last 15 years.

“There are kids here that they have maybe never seen before and they’ve been able to make friends with,” an ideal helped by the fact that the initiative has not been limited to club-only players: it was open to anyone. Ian hopes this venue, at Warwickhill Road, can be a community hub for the younger kids in the area.

With the Warwickhill Road facility acting as a hub for the younger players, the

“These people are the real backbone of the club and without these people we would not be able to exist in our present form or drive the club continuously forward towards greater things.”

One of these people is John Keast, a “daft auld pensioner” by his own admission who splits his time (in retirement) between coaching the under 16s goalkeepers and running the Bonnyton Flyers squad.

As Bonnyton Thistle literally break new ground at Townholm, they are figuratively breaking new ground with the Flyers.

They are the first Disability Inclusive team in the area – a feat recognised with an award from the SFA in 2013.

“Gaining the Legacy Award has been a great achievement for the club, especially to be the first grassroots club to receive the award in East Ayrshire”

Speaking of the area of Bonnyton itself, Ian is aware of the positive impact the club can have on the community. “There’s a social aspect to it as well,” he says.

11-a-side teams will be centred at the club’s new facility just over a mile away at Townholm. The twenty minute walking distance between the two sites is perfect for logistics and who knows, it could provide a good route for gruelling preseason road runs (not that I’m giving the coaches any ideas).

Bonnyton Thistle, in its current form, was formed in 1978. Ian regularly emphasises that his vision for the club is not for next year, despite the new facility on its way, but for ten years down the line.

Has all the work been worth it for Ian? “Absolutely.”

Such ambition guarantees that Bonnyton Thistle will always reach for the sky.

Watch out Barca!

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WEST REGION IN P IC TU R ES

Clydebank U19’s Pic - David Brockett

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Clydebank v Giffnock SC Milan 17’s Pic - David Brockett

Barrhead Yo uth U14’s Pic - Steve n Mair Bishopton U21’s Pic - Colin Poultney

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St Convals U16’s

St Convals are up for the cupS ROBERT WILSON This year’s Under 16 Scottish Youth FA cup saw Spartans FC Reds pip South East Region rivals Hutchison Vale FC to the crown. Their journeys to the final, as fantastic as they were, certainly were not too surprising given both squad strength and success this season. One team though nearly did provide a great shock to the biggest competition in Scottish youth football.

Sitting in mid-table of the second tier of the Paisley Johnstone and District Youth Football League, St Convals reached the quarter-finals of this year’s competition (a feat only managed by two other teams in their entire region).

In the end they were defeated 2-1 by Knightswood BC, but their season is, and will be, one to remember.

“The boys have been excellent all season” said Phil Hughes, coach of the team. “The only problem was the weather. The quarter final kept getting postponed which was not the best preparation. But I’m delighted to have got that far. It’s really good for a second division team.”

In round three they saw off South East Region Cockenzie Star away from home with a comfortable 3-0 and in the next round it was an even more impressive

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6-1 win over Goldenhill BC. Their Round five match though was perhaps their best performance. A 2-0 away win to Giffnock SC Milan, a team a division above them and currently fifth in a fourteen team league.

But what’s the secret to getting your team to the latter stages of the tournament? “We work as a team,” said Phil. “That means the players, the parents, and the coaches. We all work together. We also all have good communication skills and we are a happy bunch. Win, lose, or draw we stick together.”

Phil was also keen to note it’s not just their Scottish Cup run where they’ve been successful. “We also reached the West Region Cup semi-finals and progressed well in the Renfrewshire Cup,” he said. “We actually had to forfeit our participation in one cup just because we didn’t have enough time to play all our fixtures.”

Only a penalty shoot-out defeat to top flight Maryhill denied Saints in the Renfrewshire Cup. Whereas the West Region Cup campaign came to an end with a narrow defeat against runaway top division champions St Peters BC.

Phil is also hoping the team will take on board the lessons they’ve learnt from their Scottish cup run. “The players have learnt to go into every game believing in themselves and their ability. That means that they have to give their all and be competitive. At the same time though, we also respect the opposition.”

While no silverware was achieved this season, Phil is hopeful that they can build on their success for the future.

“I think we’ve learned a lot already from this season. Fingers crossed we can push on next season and win the league itself. After that, hopefully we will progress up the age groups and enjoy many more years of football as a squad.”

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ONE ON ONE WITH: ® COERVER COACHING Coerver® Coaching was co-founded by Alfred Galustian and Charlie Cooke, who were inspired by the teachings of a Dutch coach called Wiel Coerver, especially his view that in the formative years individual development was more important than team development.

The programme started with one football camp in New York in 1984. Since then the Coerver® network has become established in 45 countries and the curriculum and method we use has dramatically evolved over more than 30 years. Coerver® Coaching is now about developing game effective skills, improving both the individual players and the team.

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Throughout its history Coerver® has worked with many of the game’s leading associations and clubs. In Scotland it provides opportunities for players through its Performance Academies, for coaches through its Youth Diploma - as well as supporting clubs and teams throughout the country with the Coerver® Partner Club programme.

Grassroots spoke with Coerver Scotland director Joe Jones, on all things coaching… ®

When planning a training session, what are your golden rules?

There are 3 main things we look for in each session.

1. It’s got to be safe, the parents entrust us to ensure this.

2. It’s got to be serious fun, a mixture of hard work and enjoyable practices.

3. It’s got to be challenging. Keeping the balance between success and failure

is very important. We want players to be successful but not too easily because that can be boring and won’t stretch them. Being successful builds confidence, but we need to help players have an open mindset and to enjoy challenges.

For a coach looking to implement a longer term training programme, what advice would you give?

Coaches should teach what they believe.

Identify what type of players/team you would like to develop and then set about planning how to get there.

It is important to have realistic ambitions depending on the age/ability of your players. For example in Coerver® we believe between the ages of 7-11 years focus should be on “Skill Acquisition”, then as players develop into 12-16 years we look more at “Skill Conversion”.

COACHING

In long term planning it is important to be adaptable to ensure that players are challenged or stretched appropriately in order to improve their game but also to build their confidence. Don’t be put off by results in matches at younger ages, try to see the bigger picture.

What are common mistakes made by grassroots coaches on the training ground?

How important is it to offer individual one to one coaching to players? And for those who find it challenging to devote time to it, what would be your advice?

1. Session Planning - Choosing practices

All coaches make mistakes, so we wouldn’t say these are only for grassroots but for all coaches generally. Some of the common mistakes we see are:

which don’t motivate the players.

This leads to a lack of focus from players. No matter the age or level it is

coach it is not more important than performance and progress. Focus your sessions on development of players rather than winning.

Technique is a focal point for most coaching right now. How would you balance time spent with other aspects such as fitness, tactics and training games?

Teaching technique has been the focus of Coerver® Coaching for over 30 years. We have always believed that the game is made up of individual skills & small group plays, where high level core technical skills are vital.

This style has been shown in many of the great teams.

IT’S GOT TO BE CHALLENGING. KEEPING THE BALANCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

In all technical training, even in a group session, the coaches need to be like a personal trainer as the focus is on the individual. We believe that your team is only as good as the individual within in it, so improving the individual in turn improves the team.

In training, coaches must take up a position where they can see each player working on each skill, often this will mean being on the move. Being close to the action allows coaches to see each individual player and give instant feedback when needed. A tip we would give to coaches is to split players into small groups of 3-4 players; this makes it easier to give individual attention and also works well as a work to rest ratio.

important to choose practices which are serious fun, as this immediately motivates players. If practices are enjoyable & challenging the players will focus which allows the coach to teach.

2. Over Coaching - Talking too much,

talking in the wrong place and too many practices. Be patient as they don’t have to learn everything straight away.

3. Coaching Focus - Focus on

developing players rather than winning.

There is nothing wrong with players wanting to win, but as a development

We believe especially in the formative years that all aspects of the game can be taught on a skill foundation. This means that when teaching skills you can improve stamina/speed and when teaching skills you can also develop tactical awareness such as decision making. Small sided games are vital also. In Coerver® around thirty percent of our sessions are free and conditioned small sided games.

For more information on Coerver® Coaching visit www.coerver.co.uk/scotland email scotland@coerver.co.uk or call 0844 8080 442

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HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS The pocket guide to an ideal young player’s diet AUTHOR: GRANT MACLEOD Grant Macleod has been working in the sport and fitness industries for over ten years, both in Scotland and the USA, training individuals and team in all aspects of sport, including fitness, skills and nutrition. He has worked with both children and adults up to international sport standard, and is currently building his health and fitness business in Glasgow. Grant takes an in-depth approach to helping everyone reach their optimal goals.

I

am sure at one time or another in your football career, you have experienced having little or no energy on the park. That feeling, where all you can think about is your stomach, and how you haven’t eaten enough before the game. From a young age we are told not to eat before taking part in exercise which, to a certain degree, is good advice.

But where does your energy to perform any kind of physical activity come from? What you eat, and when you eat it.

I have always compared correct sport nutrition, to running a car. Using the example of a car, let’s look at how it is maintained and how it performs.

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A car is made up of lots of different parts designed to perform particular functions, to enable optimal performance.. just like the human body. However, what is the key ingredient to making any car run? An ingredient which even people who don’t know the difference between a radiator and the steering wheel have control over?

The fuel!

If you take a car out for a drive, and there is not enough fuel in the tank, you know you are not going to get very far. By the same token, if you put the WRONG kind of fuel in the car, the car will not function correctly. If you use the car regularly, and do not top up on the oil and fluids, sooner or later, things start to go wrong.

By ensuring your tank is adequately filled (i.e. your body consuming correct energy through food) and also ensuring your body provides suitable maintenance after games, you will provide yourself with increased energy on the field and increased ability to recover. It is not only about what you eat, but also when.

Before the game Preparation starts days before a game.

Glucose, the main energy source to the body is stored in the body as glycogen, which comes from carbohydrate food sources. With the body naturally storing only a minimal amount of glycogen, it must

NUTRITION be digested into the body to maximise performance.

The day of the game is what causes most confusion among players. You need energy for the game, but you cant eat too close to the game as this can cause discomfort.

Timing of food consumption depends on the time of the game.

a shower, then planning what you are doing after the game. Food gets forgotten about after games. However, going back to pregame preparation, that preparation starts as soon as your game is over. During a game, your body undergoes physical punishment, and it is vital you re-fuel it to get it back to its full working capacity (again, just like a car using up its fuel and filling up again).

Four hours before a game, consume a good meal, consisting of good quality carbohydrates, this can include: wholemeal pastas with sauces added for flavour, baked potatoes, bagels and cereals. These are slow releasing foods which give you a steady source of energy. As the game approaches, top up your energy with healthy snacks such as: wholemeal bagel and peanut butter, fresh fruit, and yoghurt.

Examples of what should be eaten include: fresh fruit, milk, dried fruit, bagel and cottage cheese, sushi, smoothies.

There is any number of good quality carbohydrate and protein food types, and different combinations can be tried out.

The timing of consumption is every bit as important. Immediately post exercise, your muscles and cells are at their most absorbent, therefore most benefit from food. After two hours of not eating after exercise, the ability to absorb energy depletes by 50%. Players should aim to consume some good quality food within 30 minutes of a match.

Hydration As important as the correct diet is to your development as a player, adequate hydration is vital to your immediate health and performance.

Dehydration, particularly in the summer months, and in hot countries is common, and can have devastating consequences.

During the game Going back to the car analogy, sometimes while driving, it is important to refuel before the end of your trip. Typically intense exercise that lasts over an hour depletes energy sources, therefore decreasing performance. Hence why a change in performance level is noted in the final third of games... it is no coincidence.

Regular small servings of water allow hydration levels to be maintained

DURING THE GAME, TOPPING UP WITH SMALL PORTIONS OF FRESH FRUIT, SPORTS DRINKS, DRIED FRUIT, CAN GIVE THAT EXTRA EDGE.

You may notice during tennis matches that players often take a bite of a banana between games. This is to maintain their glycogen levels. During the game, topping up with small portions of: fresh fruit, sports drinks, dried fruit, can give that extra edge. Those half time oranges actually serve a purpose!

Post Game After running around the pitch for 90 minutes, eating probably isn’t the first thing on your mind. You’ll be needing water (see below),

Protein is the key player in muscle re-development. When muscles are damaged, protein builds them back up to strength, and can help increase muscle size. Bearing this in mind, as well as the need to restore energy sources (glycogen), a meal should consist of a balance between carbohydrates (glycogen), protein (to rebuild muscle) and fat, which is an often overlooked aspect of a diet. Fat is vital for the make up of the most basic unit of the human body: the cell.

Again, hydration starts the night before a game, making sure your body has time to absorb the water, and put it to use.

While playing a game, regular small servings of water allow hydration levels to be maintained.

Consumption of large amounts can lead to discomfort and a bloated feeling during a game.

Conclusion The world of nutrition is a large, and evolving one, and individuals respond to different foods in different ways. By ensuring you are eating good quality food, both before and after games, you can ensure optimal energy and physical development.

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MY YOUTH CAREER Which clubs did you play for in your youth career?

I played for Craigburn Boys Club and Coltness Ladies in my youth and then Cumbernauld (I was still a youth player playing in a womens league).

Who were the best players you played with and against during your youth career?

The best players I played with and against in my youth were Kate Mitchell, Linda Brown and Debbie McWhinnie.

Who were your role models as a young player?

Ryan Giggs was my biggest role model throughout my career.

Who was your favourite coach at youth level?

The best coaches I have ever had were Bill Munro and Shelley Valle - at any level of football.

Cumbernauld LFC coaches where I spent 13 years as a player.

If you had one piece of advice to today’s generation of youth football players, what would it be?

To have the best time ever, practice lots, have fun with your friends and listen to your coaches.

The first ever woman to reach 100 caps for Scotland enjoyed a glittering career with spells at top clubs in Scotland, England and Iceland.

JAMES MCARTHUR

The Scotland midfielder was recently made Crystal Palace’s record signing and has hit the ground running at Selhurst Park.

Which clubs did you play for in your youth career?

Gazza and the main one, Barry Ferguson.

I played for Rangers South BC, St Johnstone pro youth, Rangers SABC, Clyde and Hamilton Accies.

Who was your favourite coach at youth level?

Who were the best players you played with and against during your youth career?

I played with Graham Dorrans and Robert Snodgrass at Rangers South and when I was a kid Charlie Grant at Celtic was really good.

Who were your role models as a young player?

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Gerry McGregor at Clyde really looked after me and was a great coach.

If you had one piece of advice to today’s generation of youth football players, what would it be?

Stay away from all the distractions like drink, drugs, partying, etc and make sure you practice as much as you can while enjoying it.

PAULINE HAMILL

MY YOUTH CAREER

DARREN FLETCHER Tell us about your youth career in Scotland. Who did you play for and what are your lasting memories?

I played for a lot of teams in my early days in Scotland.

I trained with Hearts, Hibs, Celtic and Rangers – plus played with Tynecastle, Celtic Boys, Hutchison Vale and Musselburgh Windsor. And I won the Scottish Cup with East & Midlothian Schools. All of these were fantastic and important in my development. However, from the age of 6-10 I played for my local team, Langlaw Boys Club and enjoyed that the most. Playing with my school and local friends was brilliant.

and still is to this day. From the beginning he has always had the best advice for my improvement. After that my high school PE teacher and football coach Mr Kilday. And the two biggest at Manchester United were Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane.

What was it like making the transition to Manchester United’s academy? What were the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge was leaving home at 15 and moving to Manchester. Leaving behind my mum, dad and three younger sisters. The distraction of playing and training every day at such a wonderful place helped me a lot.

Lastly, moving away from your youth career…Brian McClair has just been appointed performance director at the Scottish FA. What do you think he will bring to the role?

Brian McClair is a fantastic appointment by the Scottish FA. He was an important part of my development at Manchester United. He provides the perfect blend of old school principles and values with out of the box and innovative thinking to help develop young players.

Who were the biggest influences around you throughout your youth career?

First of all you learn something from every coach and I’ve had lots and lots. The biggest influences were, first of all my dad

What advice would you give today’s young players?

Practice, practice, practice on all aspects of your game.

And never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.

If you believe and try your best there is a huge amount that you can achieve.

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MY YOUTH CAREER Which clubs did you play for in your youth career?

I played for Auchengill from Easterhouse. They were my first club, then I moved on to The Celtic Boys Club and the last boys club team I played for was Bishopbriggs.

Who were the best players you played with and against during your youth career?

I would have to say a boy Owen McGivern, who ended up at Dundee for some time. I played against him in my school days and he was a great player.

Who were your role models as a young player?

Being a Celtic fan I always admired Jimmy Johnstone... couldn’t play like him right

enough! I also looked up to Danny McGrain and learned a lot from the type of player he was.

Who was your favourite coach?

I would have to say the late great Tommy Burns, he was a fantastic coach.

If you had one piece of advice to today’s generation of youth football players, what would it be?

Practice, practice, practice! That is the thing with a lot of youngsters out there just now, they don’t practice enough and give up on their dreams too easily. You should never give up.

One of the most famous defenders of his generation, Boyd amassed 72 caps for Scotland and over 300 appearances for Celtic (who he captained).

CHARLIE ADAM

TOM BOYD

The Stoke City midfielder hit the headlines recently, scoring against Chelsea with a 60 yard wonder strike.

Which clubs did you play for in your youth career?

I was part of the youth set up at Dundee from 1999-2003. I then signed a youth contract with Rangers when I turned 17.

Who were the best players you played with and against during your youth career?

Best player is a tough one. There has been a lot of players that have since left the game through injury when they were still young but as far as players that are still going strong, probably Wayne Rooney. I played against him at schoolboy level. You could tell he was going to be big.

Who were your role models as a young player?

I loved playing alongside Barry Ferguson but in terms of studying and admiring a style of play, for me it was Clarence Seedorf.

Who was your favourite coach at youth level?

I couldn’t possibly answer that question, it would upset some close friends. Haha!

If you had one piece of advice to today’s generation of youth football players, what would it be?

Practice your skills and techniques rather than just going out and playing a game. Use what you have practiced and adapt it to your game. Study successful players and watch how they read the game and always seem one step ahead. If you ever get rejected at a trial use that as motivation to prove that coach wrong. Finally, never go into a game half heartedly, always give it everything you have.

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BOB DOCHERTY CUP 2015

66

Team photo

Scotland vs N. Ireland

Pic: David Brockett

Pic: Colin Poultney

Scotland vs Wales

Scotland vs England

Presentation of the cup

Pic: Colin Poultney

Pic: David Brockett

Pic: Colin Poultney

BOB DOCHERTY CUP 2015 On Thursday 9th April, Scotland clinched the Bob Docherty Trophy after a perfect week of football for the young Scottish girls. Four matches played, four wins and not a single goal conceded. Scotland were crowned champions of Great Britain and Ireland in emphatic style.

The Bob Docherty tournament is held annually for girls at Under 15 level. Five countries compete, with Republic of Ireland joining the home nations; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Guest sides have been invited previously, to create an even number, but 2015 saw just the founding five take part.

Since the event was launched in 2007, no one team has dominated. Prior to this year’s event Republic of Ireland lead the way with three victories, Northern Ireland had two to their name and England were last year’s victors. Scotland now join Republic of Ireland as the record holders, after claiming their third crown and second victory in three years.

Scotland Girls U15’s Pic: David Brockett

Scotland vs Rep. of Ireland Pic: Colin Poultney

FINAL STANDINGS

P

GD

1.

12

+9

2. Republic of Ireland

7

+1

3. England

6

+2

4. Wales

3

-5

5. Northern Ireland

2

-3

Scotland

Scotland’s victory in 2013 was in Northern Ireland. An unbeaten campaign saw the Scots win dramatically on day five, with a squad that includes a whole host of players that have gone on to represent their country at U17 and U19 level. Amy Gallacher, Becky Flaherty, Erin Cuthbert, Alyshia Walker, Chelsea Cornet and Cailin Michie to name but a few. However, the ‘Auld Enemy’ (England) wrestled Scotland’s title from them in 2014. That tournament was held in England and with Scotland hosting this year’s event, the incentive for recapturing the crown was never greater.

Scotland got off to the perfect start on Monday, seeing off Northern Ireland with ease with a final score of 4-0. Hannah Robertson slotted home to give Scotland an early goal lead which was doubled thanks to a neat finish from Alise Stewart. Goal number three came courtesy of Monica Anderson, whose fine strike saw the Northern Ireland keeper stranded. Caitlyn Ross rounded off the win with a late goal.

Day two saw Scotland matched with the ‘Auld Enemy’. Scotland came out on top thanks to a late Robertson strike. The crowd went wild, as Scotland held on for a 1-0 victory over England. After going into the tournament against teams who were largely unknown quantities, there was now a belief in the camp that the Scots could go all the way.

Coach David Thomson said: “It was a very close game, with two smashing teams.

One goal separated it and I’m glad it was us who got it.”

On Wednesday Scotland were back in action and comfortably beat Wales 3-0.

Ross bagged her second of the tournament slotting the ball under Emily Poole to give the Scots an early lead. This was followed up by a quickfire double from Grace Molloy in the second half.

Scotland lead the way going into Thursday’s final matches, but had been paired by their nearest challengers – Republic of Ireland. However, Ireland had dropped two points after a penalty defeat to England (any game that is drawn goes to penalties, with the victor gaining an extra point for the league standings).

This meant just a draw was required, for Scotland to win the trophy on home soil.

A tight game was decided by one single moment of quick thinking in the first half.

A corner was delivered to the back post and Kaela Macdonald was quickest to react. She took a quick touch before firing the ball home, past the helpless goalkeeper.

A tense match unfolded, between two well matched sides, but Republic of Ireland couldn’t find a way past the rock solid Scots’ defence. 1-0 it remained and upon the final whistle Scotland celebrated not just winning the match, but being crowned Bob Docherty Cup champions.

Goalscorer Kaela McDonald said: “It was good to get the win, the girls deserve it, we’ve all really worked hard and it felt fantastic to score.”

A fantastic week was rounded off in spectacular style, with the squad gracing the Hampden Park turf to receive their international caps. A week none of the players will be forgetting in a hurry. Roll on 2016 and the title defence.

Sean Selkirk ISSUE 1

67

IAN CATHRO THE

GRILLING

Ian Cathro works with a young Ryan Gauld and John Souttar

Every issue gives you the chance to grill a big name with a link to grassroots football in Scotland. First up is Ian Cathro.

At the age of 28, Ian Cathro’s coaching CV is one of the most impressive around. Having been unable to progress his own playing career to profesional level, due to injury, the Dundee lad began his coaching journey. First up was his own venture - Cathro Coaching Clinic. An independent coaching school which was attended by Sporting Lisbon’s Ryan Gauld, Dundee United’s John Souttar and a host of other players looking to take their game to the next level.

Cathro was then recruited by Dundee United to the role of Junior Academy manager, before progressing to the Scottish FA and being given the Head Coach role of the East Region’s performance school. Next stop was Portugal and joining up with Rio Ave as assistant manager - working with Nuno Espirito Santo, who he had met on a Scottish FA coaching course. Santo was then appointed Valencia CF manager, and Cathro followed, becoming assistant manager of the La Liga giants.

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YOUR QUESTIONS:

CALUM LANGDALE FERRY ATHLETIC How has life differed since coaching the Dundee United academy boys in 2010?

Many things have changed - probably more than I could have ever imagined, certainly more than I expected. I think mainly due to opening up, experiencing and living in a different culture. I’ll forever be grateful to all the people I came across, worked with and who helped me during the first year in Portugal - they all helped me so much to grow up, not just as a coach but as a man (I recognise the name - hope you’re well Calum!).

THE GRASSROOTS GRILLING Lewis Melee Dundee United Like yourself I knew that I wasn’t going to make it as a player so decided to take up coaching. I’m currently 20 and on the verge of getting a pro youth coaching role. What advice would you give to someone my age on how to reach the top?

First thing I’d say is that I’ve not reached the top yet! I, like you, have a lot of work ahead. Thinking of advice to give - I’d suggest to you not to try and reach the top, not to focus on anything that you can’t achieve today. Get motivated, get inspired, get incredibly focussed on the work, progress and improvements that you can make today. Never have fear of being wrong - just search to find out what’s right and make sure every player that passes you improves and grows every day.

Gary Burns Rossvale It’s well known that too many scouts in Scotland have picked players by size previously. Is Spain’s attitude of technical ability over size evident from academy level up?

Scotland can’t be Spain - it would be foolish to try. What we need is a balance of different qualities that are natural to us that when blended makes our football richer and more ready for success in the modern game. I’ve not yet had the chance to see any of the academy teams here so I cannot comment on anything specific but the rhythm of football here demands

certain qualities from central midfielders, full backs and wide players that are different from what we at home consider the main characteristics for these positions. The change in our game that I think your referring to needs to come from brave leadership of a club who chooses to be different and believes that this will result in greater and sustainable long term success.

Scott Paterson Hutchison Vale What or who has been an influence in your career and what’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt to date?

My two years in Portugal in Rio Ave was so packed of lessons and learning, the two years seem more like five! Prior to leaving Scotland I had a few opportunities to do the same yet I felt convinced I had to take the opportunity to work with Nuno.

From the first meeting with him I knew he was someone who would challenge me, to grow, become stronger, improve both professionally and personally and I was right - he is a very intelligent, strong leader and a man of great values. At the same time moving to Dundee United beforehand to work with Craig Levein, he really helped me to understand how football clubs work - he is always someone I look to for his thoughts and advice on any situation life would throw my way - I consider myself very fortunate to be able to pick up the phone.

Most important lesson to date - no matter what way you play, you can win, draw or lose - you can never control everything, you must be true to yourself, your way, your vision, your ideas.

When the time comes - I’ll be me.

T O H S G I B E L T LIT YOUTH CUP

Spartans score from the spot as they upset Partick Thistle Photo: Paul Guz

This season’s Little Big Shot Youth Cup has been full of thrills and spills.

The competition, which has been running since 1983/84, is a national tournament for U20 sides from the SPFL and other Scottish FA member leagues. Last season’s final saw Rangers beat Hearts, ending a run of four successive wins for Celtic. 51 teams entered this year’s competition, which began in August 2014 in Falkirk and will end at Hampden Park in May 2015.

ROUND 1

ROUND 2

The first round saw just three ties take place, in order to fix the numbers for the competition ahead. Cove were convincing winners in the first all ‘non league’ tie of the competition, with Falkirk and Stenhousemuir also progressing.

ROUND ONE Results

70

COVE RANGERS

6-0

TURRIFF UNITED

FALKIRK

1-0

STIRLING ALBION

STENHOUSEMUIR

4-1

ALLOA ATHLETIC

Round two is where the competition really took off. All teams who failed to reach the fourth round of last year’s competition enter at this stage - which means there is a mix of SPFL top tier, second tier and non league teams.

A fantastic round of matches saw three shocks as Spartans of the East of Scotland FA knock out top flight Partick Thistle; Forfar Athletic beat Inverness CT; and East Kilbride FC overcame Stenhousemuir.

You’d expect a seven goal Dundee derby thriller might have been tie of the round, but it came a distant second to the sixteen goal spectacle between Inverurie Loco Works and Fraserburgh FC.

ROUND TWO Results Annan Athletic

7-0

Threave Rovers

Clachnacuddin

2-0

Keith

Clyde

2-1

Dumbarton

Cove Rangers

1-0

Brora Rangers

Dalbeattie Star

3-4

Selkirk

Dundee United

4-3

Dundee

East Kilbride FC

3-2

Stenhousemuir

Edinburgh City

1-4

Whitehill Welfare

2 - 2 Airdrieonians (Falkirk win 5-3 on penalties) Falkirk

Forfar Athletic

1-0

Inverness CT

Hamilton Academical

2-0

Livingston

Huntly FC 10 - 0 Lossiemouth Inverurie Loco Works

7-9

Fraserburgh

Montrose

1-3

Banks O’Dee Albion

Ross County

0-2

Aberdeen

Spartans FC

4-2

Partick Thistle

LITTLE BIG SHOT YOUTH CUP ROUND 4

ROUND 3 The third round is the last entry point, with all of the remaining teams making their debut. Another exciting round of games saw no shocks on this occasion, with Celtic, Hibs and St Mirren coming through all top flight affairs. The last non league team standing were Selkirk, who were victorious on their trip to Banks O’Dee Albion.

ROUND THREE Results ABERDEEN

1-1

HIBERNIAN

(Hibernian win 4 - 2 on penalties) ANNAN ATHLETIC

3-1

FRASERBURGH

AYR UNITED

2-0

COWDENBEATH

BANK’S O’DEE

2-4

SELKIRK

CELTIC

2-0

MOTHERWELL

CLACHNACUDDIN

0-9

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

COVE RANGERS

0-3

ST JOHNSTONE

DUNDEE UNITED

4-0

FORMARTINE UNITED

DUNFERMLINE ATH

5-1

CLYDE

2 - 2 QUEEN’S PARK (Queen’s Park win 7 - 6 on penalties) EAST KILBRIDE

FALKIRK

1-3

ST MIRREN

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

3-0

WHITEHILL WELFARE

KILMARNOCK

9-0

HUNTLY

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

5-3

FORFAR ATHLETIC

RAITH ROVERS

0-5

GREENOCK MORTON

RANGERS

4-0

Spartans FC

Round four and the last sixteen. Queens Park once again won on penalties after a thrilling draw; St Mirren were firing on all cylinders with a 7-0 victory over Hearts; and Selkirk’s run finally came to an end against Hamilton Academical.

ROUND FOUR Results ANNAN ATHLETIC

1-7

AYR UNITED

DUNDEE UNITED

0-3

CELTIC

GREENOCK MORTON 4 - 4 QUEEN’S PARK (Queen’s Park win 4 - 4 on penalties) HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

10 - 0 SELKIRK

HIBERNIAN

3-1

KILMARNOCK

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

0-2

RANGERS

ST JOHNSTONE

2-0

DUNFERMLINE ATH

ST MIRREN

7-0

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

QUARTER FINALS A tight set of games with only Hibernian progressing comfortably. Rangers needed penalties to see off St Johnstone; Celtic edged past Hamilton; and Ayr United continued to fly the flag for the SPFL Development League West with victory over St Mirren (after the original match was abandoned due to the weather, with Ayr winning that one too).

QUARTER FINAL Results CELTIC

2-1

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

AYR UNITED

2-1

ST MIRREN

Five star Dunfermline progress Photo: Garry Evans

SEMI FINALS

(AET)

0 - 0 ST JOHNSTONE (Rangers win 3 - 2 on penalties) RANGERS

HIBERNIAN

3-0

QUEEN’S PARK

Celtic’s Under 20 side sailed through to the final with a very convincing win over Hibernian at Cappielow Park. The Hoops’ dominance showed as Luke Donnelly netted four times and teammates Rory Currie and Fiacre Kelleher added to their total.

Rangers progressed to the final after a Fraser Aird goal was enough to see them edge past Ayr United in the semi-finals at Ibrox.

SEMI FINAL RESULTS Hibs knock out Kilmarnock

Photo: Susie Raeburn

Rangers defeat St Johnstone Photo: Malcolm McKenzie

CELTIC

6-0

HIBERNIAN

RANGERS

1-0

AYR UNITED

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Volunteering with YFS Are you interested in working in the media industry? Want to gain practical experience in a multi-media environment? Or maybe you just want to contribute to help promote the grassroots game. If you meet any of these criteria, volunteering with Youth Football Scotland could be for you.

We are always looking to get new volunteers involved with our organisation no matter what age you are, where you live, or what experience you have. All we ask is that our volunteers are keen to get involved and want to positively promote the grassroots game in Scotland.

With over 100 current volunteers, and with many previous volunteers going on to obtain work in the media industry, we have a strong record of helping people develop their skills in an area of their passion. As we look to expand and enhance our coverage for 2015/16, there isn’t a better time to get involved.

At the moment YFS provides volunteering opportunities in the following areas:

Match report Covering youth football matches for the Scottish FA, SPFL, SYFA, and SWFA.

Article writing Covering different stories and/or events for multiple different organisations, clubs, and teams.

Photography Covering youth football matches and events. This includes the most high profile youth matches in the country from Hampden Park, Celtic Park, Ibrox stadium, and Scotland youth national matches.

Videography Providing TV highlights or more creative

pieces. As well, for the best and most committed videographers, paid work is often available.

YFS Radio Live radio commentaries from the biggest youth matches and the possibility of a new weekly podcast.

Summer media internship If you’re based in or around the Edinburgh area, we are offering the opportunity to have a two to four week internship at our office.

All our volunteers have the opportunity to get involved in all of these areas, and we actively encourage this as part of developing multi-media skills. However, each volunteer decides what areas they want to work in and how much time they commit.

If you’re interested in applying or for more information, visit www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/vacancies.

Alternatively, you can email recruitment@youthfootballscotland.co.uk or call 0131 629 7903 to speak to our volunteer co-ordinator team. www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk

LITTLE BIG SHOT YOUTH CUP

Celtic lift the Cup

Photo: Malcolm McKenzie

LITTLE BIG SHOT YOUTH CUP FINAL

Celtic U20s 5 - 2 Rangers U20s Wardrop 20’, Nesbitt 26’, 71’, 73’ (pen), Donnelly 32’

Celtic were crowned 2015 Little Big Shot Youth Cup champions after an emphatic 5-2 victory against rivals Rangers.

On 20 minutes, Celtic went 1-0 up.

Kieran Tierney delivered a corner into the Rangers penalty area and, following a bit of pinball, the ball was prodded home on the goal line by Sam Wardrop.

A minute later Celtic were enjoying a two goal advantage. Nesbitt turned from goal scorer to provider as he fired in a great cross, from the right, directed towards Luke Donnelly in the Rangers box. The Celtic number 9 took one touch to control and then another to take the ball away from the rangers defence in an excellent show of skill. He then rounded that all off in the perfect manner, by slotting the ball into the back of the net through the keeper’s legs.

Photo: Malcolm McKenzie

Within a minute Rangers were back on level terms following a bizarre own goal. Calum Waters looked to head the ball back to his goalkeeper to calm the impending Rangers pressure.

However, the Celtic left back misjudged the position of Hart and the header bounced past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Following this set back Celtic reassumed control of the game and regained the lead on the 26th minute.

What a goal it was too. Aidan Nesbitt picked up the ball out on the right flank and expertly evaded three Rangers challenges as he drove towards goal. As he got closer to the target he unleashed a fierce strike straight into the bottom left hand corner past Liam Kelly. A fantastic way to go 2-1 up.

Own Goal 21’, Dykes 89’

(HT 3-1)

right and he executed a pinpoint accurate through ball for him. With just the ‘keeper to beat Nesbitt opted for power and blasted the ball past Kelly and into the right of the goal. It was a fantastic piece of build up play from the Celtic youngsters.

Just two minutes later and the game looked all but done as the referee awarded Celtic a penalty after a challenge from Halkett. Nesbitt stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly converted into the bottom right hand corner of the net to seal his hat-trick.

In the 89th minute Rangers did get a consolation goal, but it was too little too late from their point of view. Hardie managed to drive into the 18-yard box, from the left, and was able to cut the ball back to Dykes, who was lurking on the penalty spot. His initial shot was blocked

by Stuart Findlay but he successfully managed to dispatch the rebound to make the score 5-2.

With 57 minutes played Celtic appeared to have one hand on the trophy as they scored goal number four for themselves. Waters played the ball into Donnelly, via an excellent dummy from McMullen. Donnelly turned and spotted the run of Nesbitt out on the

Shortly afterwards the referee concluded the game and Celtic were confirmed Little Big Shot Youth Cup winners. Both sides did exceptionally well to reach this stage but, on the day, Celtic ran out deserved winners.

ALISDAIR HOOPER ISSUE 1

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Performance school pupils

ALASDAIR HOOPER As part of the Scottish Football Association’s Performance Strategy, seven schools throughout Scotland have been selected to deliver the Performance Schools programme. The scheme is aimed at boys and girls and will see them through from the age of 12 up until they are 17.

At these schools some of Scotland’s most talented young footballers will marry their football education with their normal curriculum as part of the Scottish FA’s commitment to elite player development.

“From a basic level it’s a normal school,” says Neil Mackintosh, the Scottish FA’s Performance Development Manager. “The only difference is that we’ve recruited some of the best young players in the local regions to come to one school. Basically what we’ve done is take the best players, put them into one year group, and we train them every single day.”

Seven coaches have been appointed to work in conjunction with the schools, and the players’ clubs, to enhance their

74

technical skills at this incredibly key stage of development.

“We feel that by offering them the four years, individualizing the programme, we’re making sure that we’re giving them the necessary tools to improve” states Broughton High School’s Elite Performance Coach, Greg Miller. “Come the end of the programme they’re a much better player within themselves. That then will help them fitting into a team environment”.

As well as having an impact upon their own footballing ability the players in question also play a role in their respective schools. Graeme High School’s Head Teacher, Lesley A Carroll, explains that these players are “highly regarded” within the school community and act as “very positive role models for other young people”. Not only does the scheme have benefits for those participating but also those indirectly involved.

Every year each school will take up to 20 of the most promising and talented

under-12 players in the region. Each coaching session they receive focuses on skill and development and, by the time they will have finished the four-year programme, each of these players will have taken part in an extra 800 sessions.

This vast increase can only have positive results.

Of course the training does not stop once the players have gone home. Each player takes a well-being survey and usually spends some of their home time doing some stretching. If they feel that their muscles are a bit tight they are also advised to spend some time using a foam roller to iron out any problems and get them ready for the next training session.

“There’s a massive amount of activity for these young players to manage and to commit to,” Neil Mackintosh continues. “ So yes, it’s not just football and the practice. There are many, many things around that.”

THE SCOTTISH FA PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS Kenzie, an elite performance player at Grange Academy, says that having to manage all of these various activities, on top of normal school curriculum, is “quite hard”. But, as she so accurately puts it, “if you want to be the best player that you can be you need to work hard.”

This message and attitude is perhaps the single most important aspect that these performance skills deliver. Regardless of whether these players make it in the game they will come away knowing that, wherever their life takes them, they need to work hard to succeed. If they do then they will also receive the rewards for that effort. While the performance schools may well revolve around football the life skills they supply are also hugely vital for these young players.

The tagline that has been used to describe the aim of the Scottish FA performance schools is ‘better players, better grades and better people’.

Mackintosh states that the tagline may well be a bit ‘cheesy’ but it summarises

perfectly what is trying to be achieved.

“We’re three years down the line and we think we’re really well on the way for that,” he continued.

to develop technically and, at the end of the day, that’s great for Scottish football if young players can be technically ready by the time they’re 17 or 18.”

The performance school programme is one of the most significant and positive developments for Scottish football in decades. The schools enhance the coaching provided and, with the programme tailored to the individual player, they should have a far greater

Of course the “better grades, better people” factor is also something vitally important. While all these players have ambitions of competing at the highest level for some they may not get to the top. However, they will in no way be at a loss as they will still have gained the necessary skills to succeed in life, be it in other aspects of football or other walks of life. The making of the person is as significant as the making of the player, something that shouldn’t be forgotten.

THE MAKING OF THE PERSON IS AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE MAKING OF THE PLAYER, SOMETHI`NG THAT SHOULDN’T BE FORGOTTEN. impact on successfully developing Scotland’s players of the future.

Sporting Lisbon, and former Dundee United midfielder, Ryan Gauld said, “I think it’s going to be great for the young players. It’s going to help them

The final section of this article can be left to Grange Academy’s Kenzie, who sums up through her own ambitions what we can hopefully expect to see coming out of this scheme. “I’ll definitely work the hardest I can to be a national player because I want to be playing at Hampden,” she says pointing to the stadium. With the Scottish Football Associations performance schools we should hopefully keep Hamden Park crowds entertained for years and years to come.

Regional Performance Schools and Coaches:

Braidhurst High School (Motherwell) Gordon Craig Broughton High School (Edinburgh) Greg Miller Graeme High School (Falkirk) Ian Ross Grange Academy (Kilmarnock) Andrew Goldie Hazlehead Academy (Aberdeen) Stuart Glennie Holyrood Secondary School (Glasgow) Brian McLaughlin St John’s High School (Dundee) Iain Jenkins

Sean McKirdy, captain of Hearts U20’s was one of the first to sample the Performance School process

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LL A B T O O F Y IT S R E IV N U & E G E COLL CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

2

1 BUCS LEAGUES

3 MEN’S LEAGUE BUCS SCOTTISH 1A

Scotland’s highest ranked men’s university team, University of Stirling 1s, compete in the British top division.

BUCS Premier North 2nd Place: Stirling 1s

WOMEN Stirling’s excellent season saw them clinch the league and cup double. There was more joy for Strathclyde, whose women will also compete in Scotland’s top tier next year. Edinburgh University’s second team completed the league honours.

76

BUCS SCOTTISH 7A St Andrews 2s 16

1.

2.

Edinburgh 1s 14

2. Glasgow 2s 13

2. UWS Paisley 13

3.

Abertay 1s 11

3. Edinburgh 3s 10

3. Edinburgh Napier 3s 10

4. Edinburgh Napier 1s 8

4. Strathclyde 2s 10

5.

5. Edinburgh 4s 9

Heriot-Watt 1s 2

4. Dundee 3s 9 5. Stirling 5s 1

BUCS SCOTTISH 8A BUCS SCOTTISH 2A Strathclyde 1s 19

BUCS SCOTTISH 5A 1.

Aberdeen 2s 16

1.

St Andrews 3s 20

2. Glasgow Caledonian 2s 13

2. Glasgow 1s 13

2. Glasgow 3s 15

3. Heriot-Watt 4s 7

3. Robert Gordon 1s 8

3. Edinburgh Napier 2s 11

4. Queen Margaret 1s 6

4. Aberdeen 1s 8

4. Heriot-Watt 3s 4

5. Aberdeen 4s 5

5. St Andrews 1s 7

5. Stirling 4s -1

BUCS SCOTTISH 3A

Stirling’s second team were top of the tree, whereas Strathclyde celebrated their second successive promotion - taking them into the top flight.

Robert Gordon 2s 15

1.

Stirling 2s 20

1.

The BUCS leagues are the bread and butter of the university game. The teams compete in small sections, where they play each other home and away. There is a large selection of different divisions, with promotion and relegation from each.

BUCS SCOTTISH 4A

1.

1.

Dundee 1s 22

BUCS SCOTTISH 6A 1.

UWS Hamilton 22

BUCS SCOTTISH 9A 1.

Edinburgh Napier 4s 18

2. Strathclyde 4s 12 3. Glasgow Caledonian 3s 7

2. Edinburgh 2s 12

2. Dundee 2s 15

3. Heriot-Watt 2s 10

3. Aberdeen 3s 8

4. Glasgow Caledonian 1s 2

4. Strathclyde 3s 6

6. Dundee 4s 4

5. Stirling 3s 2

5. Abertay 2s 1

7.

4. Heriot-Watt 5s 7 5. St Andrews 4s 7

Stirling 6s -2

WOMEN’S LEAGUE 1.

BUCS SCOTTISH 1A

BUCS SCOTTISH 2A TBC

Stirling 1s 21

1.

Strathclyde 1s 15

BUCS SCOTTISH 3A 1.

Edinburgh 2s 18

2. s Andrews 1s 14

2. St Andrews 2s 12

2. Edinburgh 2s 12

3. Edinburgh 1s 12

3. Dundee 1s 12

3. Heriot-Watt 1s 15

4. Glasgow 1s 7

4. Aberdeen 1s 12

4. Edinburgh Napier 1s 3

5. Robert Gordon 1s 1

5. Abertay 1s 6

5. Glasgow Caledonian 1s 3

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

CUP WINNERS SHOWCASE

5

4

6 1. Edinburgh University 1s 2. Strathclyde 1s 3. UWS Hamilton

4. Stirling 1s (Women) 5. Dundee 1s (Women) 6. Edinburgh College

WOMEN’S CUP COMPETITIONS

MEN’S CUP COMPETITIONS BUCS CONFERENCE CUP FINAL Dundee University

0-3

Strathclyde University

QUEEN’S PARK SHIELD - FINAL Aberdeen 1s

1-3

UWS Hamilton

Edinburgh 1s

SSS MARS CUP - FINAL Edinburgh College

1-0

Strathclyde made it a season to remember, by adding a convincing Conference Cup victory to their league title. It was a double for UWS Hamilton too, beating their league rivals Dundee. Edinburgh completed the university honours with an excellent victory, but an honourable mention goes to losing finalists Aberdeen, who beat a Stirling first team from two

Glasgow Kelvin College

QUARTER FINALS

Heriot-Watt 1st, Edinburgh Napier 1st

LAST 16

Abertay 1st, Edinburgh 1st

LAST 32

Stirling 2nd

1-1

Edinburgh University 2s

Stirling 1s

4-0

Robert Gordon University 1st

Winners of the Mars Cup, for colleges, were Edinburgh College. The competition sees colleges from across Scotland compete in regional groups, before proceeding to the knockout stages.

BRITISH WOMEN’S

BUCS CHAMPIONSHIP Stirling 1s

SSS WOMEN’S CUP - FINAL

divisions above to make the final.

MEN’S BRITISH CUP COMPETITIONS BUCS TROPHY

Dundee University

(Dundee win on penalties)

BUCS CONFERENCE PLATE FINAL Dundee University 2s

0-3

BUCS CONFERENCE CUP - FINAL

0-1

Hartbury 1st

BUCS TROPHY SEMI FINALS

Stirling 1s

QUARTER FINALS

St Andrews 1st

LAST 16

Edinburgh 1st

LAST 32

Glasgow 1st, Robert Gordon University 1st

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READER OFFER To celebrate Football Nation and Joma’s successful partnership, we’re offering Grassroots readers the chance to win a full kit for theIR team!

Joma’s 2015 collection is bold and exciting and you could get your hands on 15 outfield kits and a goalkeeper set by contacting Football Nation and getting a quote for your club.

Either phone them on 0131 661 6603 or email teamwear@thefootballnation.co.uk with details of your potential order.

MATCH K ITS | T RAINING CLOTHING | EQUIPMENT 78

COMPETITION

There are plenty of football retailers out there, but what makes Football Nation so different from all the rest?

That can be answered with one, simple word:

No other football retailer lives and breathes the game quite like Edinburgh’s own Football Nation. Established in 2006, the company initially began with just two employees: friends Stewart Everest & Steven Dow. After growing weary of large corporate stores treating football as a cash cow, Stewart and Steven created a store with a goal that was to be as passionate about the game as the fans were. The shop set up on Lothian Road, where it still remains to this day.

It wasn’t long before the store became the first stop for local players from all levels of the game - providing the most extensive collection of football boots and equipment in the city. The casual footballer loved the store too as it stocked a more interesting selection of football shirts than many larger rivals.

Football Nation expanded into teamwear in order to supply amateur clubs with professional grade gear that both performed well & looked the part.

It wasn’t long before a plethora of teams were taking to the pitch in kits with embroidered club badges and sponsor prints (which unsurprisingly pleased the sponsors.)

Football Nation have over 10 staff and have established themselves as the most reliable team kit suppliers in Scotland. Their core brands now being ‘Football Nation’, (Retail Store) & ‘Football Nation Teamwear’.

They have their own dedicated showroom in the Peffermill Parc, complete with adidas, Errea, Joma, mitre, Uhlsport and Umbro teamwear (as well as an astroturf floor where most businesses would lay a carpet). You can see where it all happens!

The company now supply team kits, training gear & equipment and trophies & medals to some of the largest amateur clubs around, including Musselburgh Athletic, Edinburgh City and Bonnyrigg Rose. In addition to this, several full-time clubs have put their faith in Football Nation Teamwear – with Livingston, Cowdenbeath, Albion Rovers and East Fife included in the company roster.

A close relationship with Spanish sporting giants Joma has also blossomed over the years. Joma has been based in Toledo since 1965 and have manufactured kits for the likes of Sevilla, Getafe and even the Honduran national side.

V I SI T SCOTLAND’S NUMBE R ONE TEAMWEAR SHOWROOM AT PEFFERMILL PARC thefootballnation.co.uk • 0131 661 6603 E: teamwear@thefootballnation.co.uk Unit 7, Peffermill Business Parc, King’s Haugh, Edinburgh, EH16 5UY

AUTHOR: ANDY STEELE

Between 1990 and 2005, Duncan Ferguson was one of Scotland’s most prolific strikers. Spells with Dundee United and Rangers, then in England for Everton and Newcastle United, saw the tall forward become the idol of millions as he bagged 69 league goals and 85 in total, still the highest return by a Scottish striker in the Premiership.

Now working toward his UEFA Prolicense certificate as he enters a new phase of his career in football, Ferguson reflected on his own beginnings in the game, the lessons he learned the hard way and the ethos he hopes to instil in the players under him.

It’s no surprise to see Ferguson return to the game as coach, for his world has always been all about the ball. ‘When I was about 11 or 12, I was playing all the time. It was constantly football, football, football. I would play Saturday for the BB team, then for the school team, and again on a Sunday for my Sunday league side.’ He tasted early success, winning the Scottish Cup with Carse Thistle, before working his way through the youth system and into the professional ranks with Dundee United, with whom he also lifted the Scottish FA Youth Cup (then

80

called the BP Youth Cup) before making an impact in the first team, with 36 goals over three seasons.

It was the complete dedication to the game, and an absolute determination to success as a professional, that marked Ferguson out as a special talent who was soon scouted by teams from Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. ‘When I was younger, I’d notice about 30 kids playing football, but as the years went on, I’d end up on my own, so really a lot of kids drifted away, doing other things.

But I kept on practising, practising, and that’s one of the main reasons I had an advantage: I was always practising.’

And not just practising football - the wide open spaces of Stirling lent themselves to the young Ferguson’s narrow focus and dedication. ‘I did a lot of cross country

running, I was always quite active. I was dedicated and determined that I wanted to be a footballer, and that grounding really gave me an advantage that lasted throughout my career,’ says Ferguson.

The big striker’s desire to play meant he easily achieved the current Scottish FA target of youth players recording 10,000 hours practice, but he stresses that logging those hours alone guarantee nothing. ‘If you can get 10,000 hours of quality coaching, I’m sure it’s going to help you. But if those 10,000 hours are spent in a classroom, or just listening to coaches talking, that’s not going to help you become a footballer. If you can’t control or pass a football, you’re never going to become a footballer, no matter how much people tell you’, insists Ferguson. ‘You’ve got to practice at anything, if you’re going to get better.’

BIG INTERVIEW

PLAYER FACT FILE YOUTH TEAMS

7th Stirling Boys’ Brigade

ICI Grangemouth

Cowie Colts under 9 - under 12’s

Hamilton Thistle

Carse Thistle

PROFESSIONAL TEAMS

Ferguson as part of Dundee United’s 1990 BP Youth Cup winning team

‘There was no coaching when I was starting out, only the guys who would organise the bus runs or car pools. But there wasn’t any tactical work. I worked on those skills myself and that carried through to the professional stage, when people really started telling us about shape work and so on. There wasn’t a lot of coaching done, it was all practice, time on the ball,’ he says.

Just as important to Ferguson’s development, though, was family. ‘I had a Dad who really took an interest in me, who wanted to make sure I got to games or training. At weekends he wasn’t in the pub, he was with me, getting me to games. He was really my role model, the one I really looked up to.

I was in love with football anyway, but he kept me going.’

And for Ferguson, it’s crucial that today’s parent take an active role in encouraging their kids. ‘You’ve got to get your son or daughter up off that sofa, and get them outside doing some sport. It’s hard times, and parents can find it difficult to get their kids to venues – it takes a lot of money in petrol and things like that, and times have changed – we used to go places on trains ourselves which maybe people don’t do so much now.

But you’ve got to push them a little bit, there’s nothing wrong with that.’

Dundee United

Appearances

Goals

1990–1993

Dundee United

77

28

1993-1994

Rangers

14

2

1994

Everton (loan)

9

2

1994-1998

Everton

107

42

1999-2000

Newcastle United

30

8

2000-2006

Everton

123

25

Ferguson also sees wider social benefits to parents encouraging young people into sport. ‘At the end of the day there’s a lot of great reasons to be a sportsman – financial reasons certainly, but also health benefits, confidence building, learning to work in a group. Parents are massively important when it comes to encouragement.’

In the end, though, it all comes back to the desire to work with that ball. ‘Football is all about practice’, says Ferguson.

Ferguson, better than most, knows the alternative roads that people can go down. ‘It’s not easy – you’re in an estate, your pals are hanging around, there’s gangs as well. It’s difficult, but you’ve got to live as clean a life as you can, keep away from smoking, drinking, try to keep out of trouble. As you get older, you get wiser about bad habits like drinking or eating the wrong foods, but if you can learn these lessons early that lets you be physically and mentally stronger as a person.’

“YOU’VE GOT TO LIVE AS CLEAN A LIFE AS YOU CAN, KEEP AWAY FROM SMOKING, DRINKING, TRY TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE” ‘You’ve got to practice, no matter how you do it. Whether you’ve got a wee yard, or a side wall, or a back garden, it doesn’t matter: anywhere you can practice with a ball will do it. If it’s just juggling, then just do juggling. Keep yourself motivated to master the ball, push yourself to achieve your goals – nobody else will do it for you. In the rain, the snow, you’ve got to practice and hopefully, you’ll develop the skill and earn your rewards.’

For Big Dunc, the next chapter in his football career is in the world of coaching. He began with Everton’s youth academy, before being promoted to a development coaching role within the Everton first team that he used to star for.

Where his new journey will take him, one can only speculate. However, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be doing his all to instil the work ethic that shot him to stardom, in each and every young player he works with.

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THE YOUTH EVENT SPECIALISTS Teams are always looking for new and exciting activities. Whether it is celebrating the end of a great season or looking to build team moral, activities can be hard to come by that are convenient and suitable for football teams.

We are excited to present to you Zorb Football; a twist on 5-a-side football. We take the conventional game of 5-a-side and throw in large individual inflatable protective bubbles to add a whole new way to play. We can come to your training ground and tailor the event exactly to your needs.

Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, and Last Man Standing are just a few example we can offer that develop team work and strategic thinking.

When working with young people it requires a special kind of leadership that ensures everyone is full engaged with the sport, play safely, and have the best possible experience. That’s why we pride ourselves in the quality of our event leaders. All are professional youth workers, having gain vast experience running successful events for young people with schools, councils, and charities.

We guarantee an incredible time!

These zorb balls are not only a lot of fun but they are a really great work out. The intensity of constantly falling down and getting up creates a high-energy workout session without players even realising they are training!

Zorb Football is more than just football in a bubble. We have loads of other games that all involve the Zorbs!

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To receive a FREE programme plus a copy of our latest catalogue (listing several thousand different mint condition Big Match, League, Scottish, English, Irish, Foreign and Non-League team’s programmes etc.) please send your name and address to:

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REFEREEING

Could you make it as a referee?

Here’s 10 questions that would get Perluigi Collina scratching his head. How will you get on?

Just before a through ball is played, the defender and forward are having a shoving match and the defender pushes the forward to the ground - and into an offside position.

The striker jumps to his feet, latches onto the ball and scores. What is the decision?

A team’s star penalty taker is brought down inside the area and receives treatment. They then dust themself down to take the penalty.

Should this be allowed?

The goalkeeper pushes a shot above the bar, but it loops up and the keeper changes their mind - deciding to attempt to prevent the corner. The keeper retreats behind his line and puts a hand through the roof of the net, punching the ball before it crosses the line and then catches it. What is the decision?

It is a huge match and the coach of one team has sent out all eleven players wearing a captain’s armband. Do you allow this?

In a game on a tiny pitch, a goalkeeper has came up from the back to try and score from a last minute corner. The opposition goalkeeper beats him to the ball and punches it downfield and the collosal punch goes all the way into the other net. Should the goal stand?

As a cluster of players surround you, you hear one swear directly at you behind your back. You turn around and issue a red card, but the player claims innocence and speaks with a completely different accent to the one you heard the comment come from. What should you do next?

A player, from overseas, screams foul and abusive language directly at you in his rarely spoken native dialect. You happen to know the language and the phrase, but the player pleads his innocence saying, “I do it whenever I’m angry and because nobody understands it, it doesn’t cause any offence.”

What is your decision?

A defender sticks out a hand to deliberately stop a goalbound shot. However, the defender then has a change of heart, and decides they’d prefer to stay on the pitch rather than preventing the goal. Before you can whistle, he knocks the ball into his own next. What is your decision?

A player, on a yellow card, is being substituted. Just before they arrive at the touchline, they kick out at an opposition player. They then speed off the pitch and the replacement races on, before you have had time to blow your whistle. What is the call?

A player lofts a long backpass to their goalkeeper, which arrives outside the box.

The goalkeeper heads the ball into the box and picks it up. What is the decision?

1: No. The laws state that, after treatment, an injured player must leave the field of play, regardless of the circumstances.

2: Play on. The ball hasn’t crossed the line and the goalkeeper hasn’t committed a foul.

3: You haven’t restarted the match, so you can retract the red card. You should then ask the other players who has made the comment. If one owns up, send him off. If no one owns up, play on and report the club to the relevant authority, who would then write to the club, asking for the player’s name. If they failed to provide it, action would then be taken against the club as a whole.

4: The defender has indeed no longer prevented a goalscoring opportunity. Award the goal and yellow card the player for deliberate handball.

5: Although your action is after the player has already left the pitch, the offence was not - and play hasn’t restarted. Red card the offending player and ask the substitute to come back off (unless

the manager wants to bring them on for another player).

6: Although it is tempting to play advantage, as the striker has done nothing wrong, they are still technically offside. Award a foul where the push took place and book the defender.

7: There is nothing in the laws of the game to prevent this. The only thing that could require you to take action is if the specific competition has a rule requiring the captain to distinguish their status.

8: Yes. Although it’s extremely unlikely, there would be nothing wrong with the goal.

9: A red card. The player has been lucky before, but that is no excuse for committing the offence.

10. Despite the header, this remains a backpass. If the ball is deliberately played to the goalkeeper by the foot of a team-mate, it is given as an indirect free kick from the position the goalkeeper picks the ball up.

Answers

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Improve coaching & performance with analysis

What is Performa Sports?

Performa Sports is a powerful easy-to-use performance analysis iPad app and cloud system designed to help coaches improve observation, communication and learning.

70% “

of what happens in a game is missed...

Research shows that coaches at all levels in sport can only recall around 30% of live performance and that how we learn is changing with 70% of the world’s population classified as visual learners. Importantly, athletes who have the opportunity to self-analyse and see their own actions in a game significantly improve their own learning and performance. Performa Sports is designed to extend valuable coaching contact time with players and help both the coach and player to see the bigger picture of team and individual performance.

Stay connected: email us: joe@performasports.com like us: facebook.com/performasports follow us: @performasports call us: +44 (0)843 5328 982

www.performasports.com

Proudly Supporting: The Craig Bellamy Foundation in Sierra Leone is committed to helping young people achieve their potential through sport and education.

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What areare thethe advantages What advantages of using Performa Sports? of using Performa Sports?

Live in-depth statistical graphs and data Live in-depth statistical graphs and visualisation data visualisation

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Whether big challenge – there isn’t enough of it! Whether Create playlists for coaching, training and scouting Create playlists for coaching, training and scouting

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Customise your your own KPIs and tagging templates Customise own KPIs and tagging templates Easily share your analysis Easily share your analysis Benchmark performances and trends over time Benchmark performances and trends over time Scouting and talent identification Scouting and talent identification Self-player analysis Self-player analysis

How does it it How does work? work?

The Performa Sports The Performa Sports iPad app can operate iPad app can operate as a standalone as a standalone or connected or connected performance analysis performance analysis tool, so you can take tool, so you can take the touchscreen to the touchline. the touchscreen to the touchline.

you’reyou’re involved at grassroots, semi-pro or professional involved at grassroots, semi-pro or professional level, level, balancing the day job, the next training session balancing the day job, the next training session and match is a big challenge.

By working closely with with and match is a big challenge. By working closely coaches, analysts and players from different sportssports coaches, analysts and players from different competing at different levels we have been able competing at different levels we have beentoable to createcreate a sophisticated performance analysis tool that a sophisticated performance analysis tool that is mobile, intuitive, flexible, easy-to-use and fast. is mobile, intuitive, flexible, easy-to-use andAs fast. As the Head of Performance Analysis at the at Craig Bellamy the Head of Performance Analysis the Craig Bellamy Foundation Football Academy commented, “…

Foundation Football Academy commented, “… whereas it used to take a whole day today run to through whereas it used tous take us a whole run through a game and tag our predefined KPIs, we can now tag a game and tag our predefined KPIs, we can now tag a game in under 2 hours…” a game in under 2 hours…”

The mobility and touchscreen interactions of the iPad The mobility and touchscreen interactions of the iPad naturally lends itself to ‘hands-on’ analysis and naturally lends itself to ‘hands-on’ analysis and powerful visual communication, whether at the training powerful visual communication, whether at the training ground, on the way to a game, or at home, with ground, on the way to a game, or at home, with Performa Sports the coach, analyst and player can Performa Sports the coach, analyst and player can see more and better understand the fine details of see more and better understand the fine details of performance that can help a player and team achieve performance that can help a player and team achieve their potential. their potential.

The app’s flexible live-game tagging interface allows The app’s flexible live-game tagging interface allows you to record performance data in real-time, which in you to record performance data in real-time, which in turn instantly generates graphical reports. By importing instantly generates reports.

By importing gameturn video into the app, yougraphical can quickly sync both of Performa Sports are clear to see for game video into the app, you can quickly sync both “the benefits “theand benefits Performa Sports are clear their to see for data and video to instantly create video analysis. Easy coaches clubsoflooking to take themselves, data and video to instantly create video analysis.

Easy coaches and clubs looking to take themselves, their filtering allows you methods and their club forward.” filtering allows you methods and their club forward.” to quickly find the Scott Paterson, Football Coach, Edinburgh quickly Scott Paterson, Football Coach, Edinburgh data to and videofind the data and video you need, so your “the interface is so easy to use, it has a good place you need, “the interface is soand easy to use, it has a good analytics can beso your at both high level clubs grassroots football, it’s place a analytics can be at both high level clubs and grassroots football, it’s a focused to what great facility to enhance performance.” focused to what great facility to enhance performance.” matters.

Daniel Simpson, Academy Analyst, West Bromwich matters.

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What coaches saying?

What coaches saying?

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen U20’s in action

ROBERT WILSON At the start of the 2014/15 Scottish Premiership season one thing was guaranteed. Celtic FC would win the title.

Even under new leadership and with new faces to the squad, it was a certainty.

One team though have made it trickier than previous seasons, Aberdeen FC. Aberdeen kept the title race alive beyond the split. The other challenging teams were left trailing in the Dons’ wake. There isn’t a Scottish football fan across the world that can’t say they haven’t been impressed with Aberdeen’s performance this season.

What a lot of people won’t realize though is how good the club is performing across the board. In the SPFL Development League for example, they were crowned champions – ending Celtic’s recent dominance.

These performances in both the Scottish Premiership and SPFL Development League are a testament to the club, its staff, and its ethos.

“We are fortunate enough to see a large number of recent academy graduates currently play in the first team, such as Ryan Jack, Cammy Smith, Peter Pawlett,” said Gavin Levey, Head of the Aberdeen FC Junior Academy.

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“We also have the likes of Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Jack Grimmer (Fulham) and Chris Maguire (Sheffield Wed) playing in the English Championship at the moment. It was also great to see Nicky Low step up and score a penalty in front of over 50,000 fans in the Scottish League Cup Final last season.

“There’s a strong crop of young players in the Under 20s Development squad right now, who are on the fringes of the first team”

keen not to highlight any one player in particular. “It would be unfair to single out individuals, as all players develop their potential at different speeds and at different stages as they get older” he said.

“Aberdeen FC is a big believer in ensuring the top players are challenged and we are proud of the fact that all age groups have young players who play in the year above, sometimes even two years above. This is so important to us, as even though a talented young player might be able to score five goals at his own age group and help win a game comfortably, we have to ensure the young player is challenged to help maximise his potential.

“WE HAVE TO ENSURE YOUNG PLAYERS ARE CHALLENGED TO HELP MAXIMISE THEIR POTENTIAL” One of the players that has already done just that is Lawrence Shankland. The former Queen’s Park forward has lit up the SPFL Development League this season with 29 goals, topping the scoring charts. It was this form that saw him rewarded with his first senior start against Partick Thistle on the 4th of April.

Shankland is just one of their many promising youth players, and Gavin was

Gavin also noted how important the first team staff have been in helping implementing the clubs aim of having 50% of the senior squad being graduates of the Academy. “Thankfully, we are able to achieve this at the moment, which is aided by the fact that the management team are big believers in giving the homegrown players a chance to prove themselves at first team level. We have also worked hard to maintain having a good number of players playing for International teams, and some who even play International football a year above their own age group.”

PRO YOUTH Despite their success, nobody is simply resting on their laurels at the club. When asked about the future of the youth system, Gavin said “There has been a lot of excellent work carried out by the youth academy over the years and it’s our hope to build on the successes, whilst implementing the club’s philosophy. This, in hand with moving to a new training ground, will give us the very best opportunity to deliver our aims and objectives at the highest level.

“Realistically, we should be targeting developing top class players in the best learning environment so they go on to play for the first team and beyond. Furthermore, we are a club who want to develop good people as well as top footballers and teaching and developing life skills at Aberdeen FC is very important.”

What was unsurprising, was the positivity Gavin has for the game in general in Scotland, saying “I really believe we have a positive future. The game has come a long way and there’s certainly far more structure in the elite youth development and at grass roots level which can only help.

“The way the game’s played is also changing for the better in my opinion. More teams are now trying to play and build from the back and through midfield, rather than going long all the time. Goalkeepers are getting more comfortable with their feet and young players appear to be braver in attacks whilst willing to be creative.

“Even the 4v4 grass roots festivals we attend, you can see the coaches trying to encourage good football and develop technically good players, all of which plays a massive part in how a youngster learns the game from an early age. Even when you sit in the stands now, there seems to be a better appreciation for good phases of possession and creativity, rather than a punt up the pitch or the loudest cheer when somebody puts in a hard tackle.

“We also have a large number of Academy players in the Scottish FA Performance Schools, which are now into their third season and this level of support increasing the contact time with elite players can only have a positive effect on raising the standard of youth football in the country.

“Surely with all the positive efforts to develop our game, we will soon have the National Team qualifying for a major Championship. Coaches at every level just need to keep doing a great job at inspiring the young players, making training exciting, reinforcing the desire to practice and most importantly letting the match days be the enjoyable experience they should be.”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PLAY FOR… ABERDEEN FC? GAVIN LEVEY - HEAD OF THE ABERDEEN FC JUNIOR ACADEMY The AFC Youth Academy aims to identify and nurture players based on key criteria using the acronym AFCA (Aberdeen Football Club Academy).

A F C A

wareness A good understanding of the game, makes good decisions when in possession, and anticipates situations. ootball Mastery Masters the ball in a variety of situations, excellent technical skills and the ability to be unpredictable. haracter Player has a strong mentality, is motivated and has a desire to win every match and has a determination to achieve their football potential. thleticism The ability to move rapidly in different directions, has pace, endurance, quick reactions and power.

Last year we reassessed where we sat with our talent identification programme and realised that we had to expand this to cover a larger geographical area in the North East and further afield, but with more quality coverage.

We now employ a scouting coordinator along with 11 Area Lead Scouts who each have a minimum of five network scouts/spotters who assist them. This has helped us move from three scouts in the North East to over 55 people who are active in identifying the best potential.

Already we have seen how much of a difference this can make and has helped

Gavin Levey

strengthen our links with the boys clubs in the area. We get a lot of support from the local clubs who do a great job in the North East.

We have a number of staff like myself who have worked for the Scottish FA and Aberdeen FC in Coach Education and Club development, so have maintained good relationships with the recreational game. It’s vital that we listen and try to work with the boys clubs in the area and we’ve a number of initiatives that help us work together and it’s refreshing to see that the local clubs are supportive of Aberdeen FC in giving youngsters a chance to progress.

Aberdeen Youth Squad

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KILMARNOCK

Steven with former teammate Kris Boyd

Steven Naismith presents Stewarton Annick with new kits

STEVEN NAISMITH PLAYER PROFILE

SCOTT MCPHERSON I entered my first ever meeting with my school’s career advisor in the year of 2009 expecting to be talking about the future, my job prospects and what I should be doing when I eventually leave secondary school.

Instead, 20 minutes later, I left his office sure of only one thing: the qualities of Steven Naismith.

finisher and completely dictated the pace of the game.”

After declaring that I quite fancied being a sports reporter, my careers advisor responded by telling me the story of the time he faced Steven Naismith while playing in goal for his school team.

Steven Naismith grew up in East Ayrshire and attended Lainshaw Primary School and Stewarton Academy. His footballing education began at local boys club Stewarton Annick and his affiliation with Annick continues today as he sponsors strips for the current under 16 and 17 sides.

He said: “Stewarton Academy had been flying so we were expecting a tough game but after 45 minutes, we were one up and I’d barely had a save to make. It didn’t make sense.

“Then at half-time this short blonde lad came on and he was different gravy. We ended up losing 7-1 and he had scored four and was involved in the other three.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I would be seeing this boy again and I did, playing for Kilmarnock. It was Steven Naismith.

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Naismith’s next move looked destined to be to down south and to the English Premier League. West Brom, Wigan, Everton and even Arsenal were all reportedly chasing his signature. It’s one thing earning a move to England, but to succeed while playing in England is another and that was Naismith’s challenge after signing for David Moyes’ Everton in July 2012.

During his first season Steven Naismith was the most used substitute at Everton with “When you are looking around the squad, you 20 appearances from the bench and he the English Premier League think to yourself: ‘Should I be here?’ But as admitted does take some getting used to.

you get more comfortable with the lads on and off the field, things begin to go for you.”

“He completely ran the game and put me on my backside more than once, it was almost embarrassing.

“I knew on that day he would go on to play for Scotland. He was so intelligent, a great

At the time Steven Naismith was out injured with his first cruciate ligament injury but my careers advisor was adamant that Naismith would not only come back as good as before, but even better. He was right.

dream eventually ended when Naismith, who thought he would finish his career at Rangers, left the club amid the disaster of administration.

Naismith was on the books of Rangers as a youngster but eventually began his professional career with Kilmarnock in 2002. After four years, 29 goals, a SFWA Young Player of the Year award and a SPFA Young Player of the Year award, Naismith found himself back at Ibrox after a £1.9 million move.

A dream come true for the boyhood Rangers fan continued for five years which boasted three league titles, a Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups. That

He said: “When I first moved to England, I definitely felt a bit inferior.

It’s been a problem for Scottish boys down there in the past, and I was the same.

“When you are looking around the squad, you think to yourself: ‘Should I be here?’

But as you get more comfortable with the lads on and off the field, things begin to go for you.

“I do take a bit of time to settle into new surroundings.”

Naismith’s form picked up under new

PRO YOUTH Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who played Naismith down the middle in a number 10 role, rather than out wide where he had been playing under Moyes.

Naismith kicked on even further at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, scoring three goals in his opening three games making him hot property for all Fantasy Football managers. He is currently Everton’s third top scorer in the Premier League this season, behind record signing and £28 million pound man Romelu Lukaku and Naismith is only one behind Kevin Mirallas.

There is no doubt that Naismith is now one of Roberto Martinez’s main players and the Spaniard can’t talk highly enough about his player.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “I do believe that Steven Naismith has been the find of the season in terms of the level of performance he has brought to the side in that central position.

“We’ve seen the player that we all saw at Kilmarnock, emerging as an incredibly bright young footballer. He then went to Rangers and became a match-winner.

“He is enjoying his football and works extremely hard and he is one of the brightest footballing brains I have ever worked with.

“He is someone that can take information and execute it down to perfection and he has been a real strong character in the dressing room, bringing those strong attributes to the group.”

The 28-year-old still has many challenges ahead, including helping Scotland qualify for their first major tournament since 1998. Naismith has four goals in 36 appearances for his country and has been an instrumental part in Gordon Strachan’s improvement of Scotland, playing in the number 10 role just behind a lone striker.

As well as his on the field achievements and accolades, Steven Naismith has made a significant contribution off the field too. Naismith is an ambassador for Dyslexia Scotland, launched a scheme to help ease the progress of injured ex-service personnel back into work and supports centres for the homeless in Glasgow and Liverpool. In August 2014, he donated tickets for Everton matches to be distributed via Liverpool job centres to unemployed people actively looking for work.

Stewarton Academy’s former short blonde lad is making a huge impression on and off the field, and there is plenty still to come.

Q&A with Paul McDonald TOM SUTTON TALKS TO Kilmarnock’S Academy Director

Q: What is your role at the club?

“As Head of the Youth Academy player and coach development, I am responsible for driving the actions of the club’s values, beliefs, and ethos to ensure our club philosophy is implemented. I am responsible for designing and monitoring the coaching curriculum, which is a vital part in developing our young players.”

Q: Can you give us a brief explanation of the club’s youth system structure?

“Our academy system is complimented by our clubs thriving community football department, which allows us to recruit players at the early ages and stages from under-seven to under-17 players.

“We identify and recruit, train and develop the best players whilst providing a learning environment that will hopefully lead to those players fulfilling their full potential to be the best that they can be.”

Q: Are there any players who have come through their youth system and gone on to achieve success as a pro?

“We have both recently and in the past had some exceptional players come through our system. Kris Boyd is the SPL all-time top scorer, Steven Naismith currently starring with Everton in the English Premiership, and Cammy Bell is currently Rangers FC goalkeeper.

“We also have a number of young players who have had recent first team experience such as Mark O’Hara, Greg Kiltie, Chris Johnston, Robbie Muirhead and Lee

Kilmarnock U20’s

Pic: Susie Raeburn

Ashcroft. During one of our home games this season we had around eight academy players involved.”

Q: In terms of the future for the youth system, what is the club looking to achieve?

Our club ethos has to be to recruit, coach, and develop our own players to sell or play for Kilmarnock FC. Further investment from governing bodies would allow us to further improve our academy systems.

Q: What skills and attributes are required for entering the club’s youth system?

Paul McDonald

“We recruit enthusiastic, determined, skillful, and hungry players who want to give 100% effort every time they wear our club’s colours.

“We also recruit staff who are keen to learn and work hard at improving all of our young players.”

Q: What do they think about the future of Scottish football overall?

“The future can be very bright if we really believe what we are doing is right. The facilities are becoming better. The standard of coaching has vastly improved with a big part played by the Scottish FA Football Development Department Coach Education Pathway.

Each club will have their own ethos and strategies on how they want players to develop but at the very earliest stages of CAS the ethos of player development should be implemented more stringently across the board and the score-line approach should not be the be-all and end-all.

Kilmarnock U20’s

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ST MIRREN

UNDER THE DOME Channel 5’s latest hit US drama, ‘Under the Dome’, depicts a group of survivors in the town of Chester’s Mill, a town mysteriously trapped under a vast, indestructible dome, without internet or mobile signal. Football clubs in the central belt have had to operate under a similar dome for years, the suffocating dominance of Old Firm media coverage.

Some clubs, though, are fighting back. In Paisley, another mill town, St. Mirren has put in place a system which offers a new footballing methodology, one which doesn’t rely on website hits or newspaper sales figures to work. It’s not a system you’ll read much about in your paper, because St. Mirren tends to fly under the Scottish football radar. It’s maybe typical of the game in Scotland that a model which many clubs could profitably adopt is virtually ignored in favour of covering the latest from Glasgow.

2014/15 will not go down as the greatest season in St Mirren’s history, after being relegated from the SPFL Premiership.

But at this point in the club’s evolution focusing on results is, rather like the team, to miss the point. While a team must win games sooner or later, it’s how they go about winning that marks out the modern, progressive clubs from the unimaginative dinosaurs. Throwing scarce money at anonymous foreign imports or journeymen pros is no longer a viable or attractive solution. Instead, a community based approach, by means of which the best talent in the area can be identified and coached from cradle to first team, is showing Scottish football the way to go.

and John McGinn become established first team players is the culmination of work which begins with the St Mirren in the Community training programmes, rolled out across schools in Renfrewshire.

With teams ranging from 3-5 years right up to under 17’s, his job is to encourage participation at all levels of ability, but with an eye on progressing the best talent into the professional youth teams and, hopefully, first team. And if they’re good enough, they’ll get that chance. ‘The club ethos is to play young players, not just sit them on the bench and take some plaudits,’ says Ross.

But the road to the first team starts a long

family from a young age; this is not a short term, ‘immediate hit’ plan for the future, and as Head of Children’s Programmes Ross, alongside Head of Academy Recruitment Gary Piggott and club scouts, is a crucial link between these community programmes and St Mirren’s Youth Academy. And, mindful of the club’s position in the Renfrewshire community, it’s not only about the ball.

“It’s a 24/7 job”, explains Ross of his role.

“Not only are we trying to encourage more people to play, but we’re also trying to teach education and employment skills: good behaviour, good manners, and the importance of life skills like diet, nutrition and hygiene. These kids may not grow up to be engineers or doctors, but through football we can give them the chance to make positive decisions and choices. “

“I think the model we’re using works... if you look at the bigger picture, it really is for the greater good.”

For Football Development Officer Ross Paterson, seeing players like Kenny McLean

way from St Mirren Park on a Saturday.

Help with funding from the Scottish FA allows St. Mirren to employ both Ross and fellow officer Dave MacKay to provide a range of programmes including the 2020 talent identification programme, which aims to find youth players who will be ready to take the world by storm in six years, and the Tesco Bank Challenge, which teaches balance and motor skills to primaries two and three. It’s an inclusive, participatory plan which draws kids into the St Mirren

Football, says Ross, is “the hook to get young people involved, to engage them, and hopefully motivate them to be better people.

People buy into these practical programmes because it’s not a school or college, its football. The pressure’s off, you can relax and be yourself.”

Central to this holistic approach is St Mirren’s Carbrini@JD Airdome, their giant

The Carbrini@JD Airdome Training Complex

90

PRO YOUTH training complex adjacent to St Mirren Park.

Beginning with the Junior Academy, for players in the 5-9 age group, teams train twice a week under the dome, with a clear progression route through youth academy, development team, under 17’s to 20’s and, ideally, first team. An obvious benefit of having an indoor facility is that not even the Scottish weather can stop the football, but the dome is also hired out by up to 30 local teams every week, providing an additional revenue stream for the club, which can then be re-invested: it’s a sustainable, sensible model for the future of both the community and the club, where increased involvement brings health benefits and may – just may – lead to finding the next star.

“It’s a fantastic facility”, says Ross. “No matter the weather, we’re never off. We provide organised fixtures, and get kids wearing the St Mirren badge. The club have worked really, really hard on their youth set-up to bring young talent through, and while we give young people the opportunity to play at whatever level they want, you’re always hoping that you’ll get one or two nuggets who might make it all the way.”

Funded by money raised by supporters - with help from partner organisations such as Tesco, McDonalds, and Bank of Scotland - the Dome is helping St Mirren deliver a year round programme of coaching and fun. With approximately 700 participants every week at the Dome alone – there are also around 800 participants in the various training classes held in other locations – it’s clear that this model offers a positive path for both players and club alike. The 2020 Development programme, in conjunction with the SFA,

has already inducted 22 players from the 2002/03 age group, with the aim of developing technical and tactical awareness in younger boys and girls. For those who have long despaired of seeing players who can’t control a football, this kind of training at a young age offers a brighter future.

The proof is on the pitch already. The Saints team which played in the home match against Partick Thistle in November 2014 featured a host of players brought through the academy: Marc MacAusland, Kenny McLean, Jason Naismith, Sean Kelly, Thomas Reilly, Lewis Morgan and Ross Caldwell all played a part. There’s a clear career path for youth players at St Mirren – talent, added to hard work, will give you a chance at this club. After that, it’s up to you.

And for young players who make the grade, St Mirren is a club where they will be given the chance to shine.

“We’ll try and do things our way,” says Ross. “Our first team is full of kids, home grown players, and I think that’s fantastic. It’s a long term project, and you’re hoping people can be patient and understand Ross Patterson what we’re trying to achieve. We’re trying to change a mind set, and it starts with the “babies” in the youth teams.”

With increasing confidence filtering down from Gordon Strachan’s national team, Ross sees a positive future at a domestic level resulting from this investment in youth.

“I think the model we’re using works. If it was more widely adopted I think we’d see a far more competitive league, it would be more sustainable in terms of resources, and even though results can sometimes be

frustrating, if you look at the bigger picture, it really is for the greater good.”

There’s every incentive, then, for local kids from Neilston to Renfrew, from Johnstone to Barrhead to get involved with St Mirren at whatever level they feel comfortable.

Delivering not just modern, safe facilities but a positive lifestyle ethos to go with it, helping young people achieve all that they can while potentially refreshing the game with a conveyor belt of promising talent, St Mirren are using the Scottish addiction to football for positive uses. And we can only hope that, with such an outlook, the club see a tangible benefit in the shape of Cups, higher finishes in the league or European adventures.

Dads and Grandads old enough to remember the 1980’s will have memories of great European nights at the old Love Street. A return to these days for clubs like St Mirren is possible - even in cash rich environments like the English Premiership, teams such as Southampton and Swansea City have proven that a modern footballing ethos, allied to giving the best local talent the opportunity to develop, can reap huge rewards. In the smaller, financially straitened pool of the SPFL, teams can achieve even more through youth development. The mills of Paisley’s industrial heritage are long gone, but under their Dome St Mirren’s long term future looks secure.

You can find out more info via www.stmirren-youthacademy.net or by contacting Ross Paterson at ross.paterson@saintmirren.net.

ANDY STEELE

ISSUE 1

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FROM PITCH TO PLATE Top chef Tom Kitchin knows what it takes to be a Michelin Star

Leaving school at 16, moving to London at 18 and then to Paris at 21. Tom Kitchin’s dedication to his profession has seen him become one of the country’s finest chefs and the youngest in Scotland to be awarded a prestigious Michelin Star.

That dedication though, at times, was tested to its limits in his early years as a trainee chef, which included having potato peelings poured over him by the legendary chef, Pierre Koffmann.

Tom, grew up in rural Kinross, where he attended Dollar Academy until 16 and then left to pursue his dream to be a chef. He always had one other passion - football. As a teenager he starred for Kinross Colts from Under 13s up to Under 17s. As a tricky left winger he drew inspiration from his idol Kenny Dalglish. His teamwork, passion and dedication ensured Tom could have easily played at a higher level should he have not followed his first love. It was on a tour to Matlock in Derbyshire, where the coach of Kinross Colts, Tony, was approached by a number of scouts who had come along to watch the young lads from Scotland play.

“Tom was one of a number of players in the team that was full of individual ability and were highlighted by a couple of English league club scouts as having real potential. Unfortunately, back then there was no youth system as there is today, and as those asked to go for trials would have had to wait until they were 16 to sign on the YTS scheme. Tom had more than just ability, his work rate, selflessness and determination made him stand out as a real team player.”

Tom recalls his time with Kinross Colts, “We had a good side, and some really good players. Matthew Wheatley was a quality player. He still plays in Holland in Dutch Junior Football. Good times!”

After leaving school, Tom worked at the nearby Lomond Country Inn while studying at Perth College and later had a spell at Gleneagles before his move to London to work for Pierre Koffmann, aged 18.

“Talk about being put out of your comfort zone. I was so out of my depth it was not funny! Every day was absolute misery. If you work extremely long hours and you get your backside kicked for most of those hours you become mentally tough. That was the making of me.” So much for being famous and a celebrity.

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LIFESTYLE

“I’VE HEARD OF YOUNG GUYS WANTING TO BECOME CHEFS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T BE PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALLERS AND THE NEXT BEST WAY TO BECOME FAMOUS IS TO BECOME A CHEF!”

Tom playing for Kinross Colts

Tom said Pierre Koffmann, who he now considers to be like a second father and mentor, would regularly take him to the brink of tears.

After moving to work in Paris and following a second stint in London, Tom went to work with Alain Ducasse in Monte Carlo.

“He has a concept called ‘a la minute’ which means that the ingredient is raw when you order it. It is then cooked and served for every single diner.

“It is the epitome of gastronomy. In my eyes there is no restaurant like it in the world, in footballing terms Alain Ducasse is Real Madrid or Barcelona, just like him they set the bench mark to which every club aspires to be.”

Tom now considers himself to be the manager, and with a Michelin Star, feels

‘The Kitchin’ is a team on the up like his beloved Liverpool FC, where there are strong similarities. A young boss, who likes to nurture talent and give youth a chance, his philosophy is ‘From Nature to Plate’. Which is to take the finest local ingredients and cook them with the classical techniques taught by his mentor to create dishes that are complex – and look exquisite – each ingredient present to complement each other rather than showboat. A reference Mr Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool would be proud to be associated with.

With such a proud Scottish tradition in his food and restaurants, Tom explains why he’s a Liverpool fan.

“Growing up my granddad was a diehard Liverpool fan, gave me no choice – family tradition – and ensured I had his passion for them by taking me to matches and telling me about the teams under Bill

Shankly and Bob Paisley, which had such a strong Scottish influence.

Now Liverpool FC provides Tom with a much needed release from the pressures of the 18 hour days in the kitchen. He can be regularly seen in with the home support at Anfield or in the away end with the travelling fans.

Tom’s final words for those young players that are looking for a career in or out of football: “Leave your comfort zone, get emotionally stronger and fight for everything you want. Take the attributes you require on the pitch as a footballer and bring them into everyday life.

Practice, passion, dedication, and most of all hard work.”

DAVID WALTHALL ISSUE 1

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Chemmy Alcott at the Dubai launch

The importance of the role of sport in ‘building the whole person’ and ‘enriching the student experience’ has been highlighted in the recent Ofsted report*, “Going the Extra Mile”.

listened to our party leaders and worked in collaboration with experts in experiential sports development to design a series of programmes with one goal in mind, to inspire young people through sport”.

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“Sport teaches St George’s Park. to compete at the highest organisations and destinations, including: us so much, from leaderships level, but even for those that skills, working as a team and listening to don’t, participating in a sports development advice, but most of all it teaches us how to tour will complement the excellent work pick ourselves up when we get knocked PE staff and other teachers are doing day down, which is a huge part of life”. in and day out to improve the level of sport in schools and to help the development of Equity is working with state of the art centres young people. of excellence and iconic sports clubs around the world that share a commitment Inspiring Learning, through its Equity brand, and passion to achieve clear development is taking a new approach to sports tours, objectives both on and off the pitch – whether centred on delivering exceptional sports it be football, netball, rugby, hockey or skiing. programmes that deliver measurable Through these partnerships students can outcomes. Inspiring Learning Head of train or play at some of the most prestigious Sport Tom Shorey commented, “we’ve

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about ditch the label About Ditch the Label Over 550,000 young people suffer abuse in our schools every day, driven by negative attitudes towards those who are considered 'different'

• •

Social sub-cultures Disproportionate income backgrounds Those who are treated unfairly because

•

advise stakeholders on what to do if they or somebody around them experiences bullying.

of attitudes towards their appearance, interests or lifestyle.

•

We are Ditch the Label; One of the UK's fastest growing anti-bullying charities. We work across the country to reduce the prominence and effects

Our approach to tackling bullying is incredibly innovative and is a completely new concept within our sphere of charity. We are a young

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organisation, ran by young people who just “get it”.

Not only do we work endlessly with schools,

We work hard to build up a strong brand identity that young people can relate to and find approachable. We purposely don’t have the word

We regularly work with press and media to

We work with celebrity and influencer role models to produce inspirational and relatable content for young people.

•

We are currently working with a well known bank on a workplace equality and diversity pilot project. If successful, we will look to expand the reach across other partners.

colleges, local governments, partner charities and organisations to reduce the effect and prominence of bullying but we also work closely with press and role models to teach young people that it’s okay to be different.

7 in 10 young people have experienced bullying. 39% never told anybody.

At Ditch the Label, we have an incredibly strong ethos for diversity and equality, we believe that everybody is unique and that difference should be celebrated.

feel as though they are victims. Our approach has been hugely successful and our growth over our relatively short lifespan has been phenomenal.

• • •

Current Work

•

Some of our current work includes the following: • •

We represent all minority groups and specifically work hard at changing negative attitudes and behaviours towards the following groups:

•

• • • • • • •

•

Physical or learning disabilities Mental health issues Lesbian, gay and bisexual Transgendered Asexual Racial and ethnic minorities Minority cultural backgrounds

Future Work

“bullying” in our name as we want to empower young people and we don’t want to make them

•

•

Producing anti-bullying strategies and campaigns for schools and colleges.

We produce world class, leading research on bullying with some of our reports being the largest in existence.

We produce help and advice guides for young people, parents/guardians, teachers and Government.

We work exclusively with Habbo Hotel, the world’s largest online teen community, providing direct 1-2-1 support to over 1,000 young people each month in our virtual help centre.

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•

Redevelop and market our peer-to-peer support community.

Increase the accessibility of advice and support for young people.

Launch our own online free-to-access counselling service.

Increase our activity within schools and colleges through peer-advocacy programs and workshops.

Continue to develop and grow our youth brand by working closer with topics of interest to our target market: such as music, fashion and technology.

Launch our own skill and community workshops for young people whom bullying alienates.

Recent Achievements • • •

European Diversity Awards 2014: Marketing Campaign of the Year (highly commended); Over 70,000 young people supported between August 2013 - August 2014; Produced some of the world's largest antibullying research, which has been featured

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PRED’S DEAD BABY, PRED’S DEAD REVOLUTION NOT EVOLUTION German giants adidas have made possibly the boldest move in the history of football boots – a revolution that will change the face of football all over the world. The iconic & much-loved adidas Predator is dead. Discontinued & discarded to become another nostalgia-tinged memory in the footnotes of the game.

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Edinburgh’s own Football Nation will be the number 1 place in the city to buy the new adidas X and Ace boots, with the company stocking all levels of the new boots in time for the official launch. If you can’t make up your mind as to which boot to go for, Football Nation will be happy to help you figure out whether you’re control or chaos, Ace or X.

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LIFESTYLE

THE SCOTTISH CUP VS

THE MERCURY PRIZE Alloysious Massaquoi Pic: Olafur Kr. Olafsson

Alloysious Massaquoi of the Mercury Prize winning band Young Fathers took time out of the North American leg of their tour to speak to Grassroots.

Who did you play for in your youth football career?

North Merchiston, Caley BC, Musselburgh Windsor, Dalkeith Town and Loanhead MW. What were your best memories playing youth football in Scotland?

The road to winning the Scottish Cup with Musselburgh Windsor U14s in 2002. Scoring the winning goal was a feeling I’ll never forget.

I played up to first year Under 19s for Dalkeith, when I was 17, and stopped due to family issues. After some years out I got back into football at 21 but had an ACL injury. While all that was happening I was still doing music and it was going from strength to strength. In some ways I could say music was a default because football was the first thing I can honestly say I became good enough and talented enough for. But talent is not enough, you need opportunity for a higher level, someone to take a chance on you and give the push you need when you’re willing to work hard. Luck also plays a big part.

Did you ever have dreams of playing professionally and if so, when did you decide to pursue music instead?

What’s the better feeling - scoring a goal or nailing a gig?

Yes, a bit of both really as it was a coexistence. One to channel my youthful exuberance as well as the sense of overcoming obstacles and the other was about being creative and also to help deal with emotions and allowing myself to open up. But after a while the line between them both became blurred.

During a gig you have to build and build to get to that point.

You also have the luxury of having a good gig to a room full of people even if you didn’t enjoy it. Whereas scoring a goal is instant. But ultimately, football is about getting results and the right result is winning. The fans don’t care how great a game you have if you are on the losing team.

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