coach Ruraidh has the world at his feet

from Lochaber Life #329 March 2021

Where in Lochaber?

COACH RUARIDH HAS THE WORLD AT HIS FEET

Iain Ferguson

A young man’s passion for football has taken him all around the world sharing his enthusiasm as a coach representing Celtic Football Club.

Former Lochaber High School pupil Ruaridh Macinnes, aged 23, from Caol, set off to study sports science in Glasgow but also applied for a place on a three-month Introduction to Coaching feeder course run by Celtic FC. He was accepted and on completion was offered a position with the club - one of only two from his class - to work with young people to develop their footballing skills.

Since then, as International and Domestic Coach for Celtic FC, he has worked in Glasgow and Scotland and across the world, spending several weeks each year in Ireland, the US, Canada and Australia sharing his knowledge and skills with thousands of keen young footballers.

Like many others, Ruaridh’s travels have been curtailed by the pandemic but he is still as busy as ever with footballing activities. He is Head Coach of Clyde FC U19 team, holds coaching classes for young Muslims and organises Glasgow Gladiators teams for disabled players in the MDUK and Championship leagues. Amongst all this, one thing he is particularly proud of is being allowed to hold a coaching session at Lochaber High School on a visit home. While still studying, he has made contact with footballers from the Highlands who have moved to Glasgow for studies and brought them together, even finding himself in a few ‘bounce’ games with Oban Saints when they have been playing in the area. Just prior to lockdown, Ruaridh set up his own business, RM Academy, which now employs two additional coaches working with youngsters in and around Glasgow using grass pitches as all other facilities are closed. This has proved to be very popular, running 22 to 25 well-attended sessions on Fridays and weekends.

Ruaridh said: ‘I am used to being busy and would have been running up and down the walls if I didn’t have something to do. I was really lucky to get the coaching post with Celtic and travel across the world. I believe their youth coaching scheme is second only to Juventus.

‘I was due to have another heavy year working in Chicago and Montreal, but it looks more like ‘Costa del Glesga’ for me.’

However, Ruaridh is making good use of this time studying in his third year at college and extending his coaching qualifications online with the English FA, Children and Adult pathways, Football Studies and Exercise Science. A hard working young man literally with the world at his feet.