“It’s about development, development, development and it’s investing in youth, youth, youth.”

These were the words of advice from Henry McLeish, speaking as part of a panel of guests at a debate into the future of the game in Scotland at the University of Stirling, Scotland’s university for sporting excellence.

McLeish, Chairman of the Scottish Football Review Commission, was joined on the panel by Chief Executive of the Scottish FA Gordon Smith, SPL Operations Director Iain Blair, SFL Chief Executive David Longmuir, PFA Scotland Chief Executive Fraser Wishart and Supporters Direct Development Manager James Proctor.

Attended by over 250 people, the main focus of the debate was to look to the future as opposed to dwelling on the past. For most Scottish fans, this is a bitter pill to swallow given the recent failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The questions as to why George Burley’s men didn’t secure a spot on the plane to South Africa could go on all night, but this debate was about discussing how Scotland could ensure qualification for future major tournaments by laying the foundations for the future of the game.

According to the main men in Scottish football, the future is not about what happens at Easter Road or Tynecastle on a Saturday afternoon, it’s about what goes on at your local park, week in, week out. It’s about increasing the numbers of young boys and girls playing the game, and ensuring they enjoy the experience.

Gordon Smith began his contribution to the debate by commending the masses of volunteers and coaches who give up their time every week to provide youngsters with the chance to play football in Scotland.

“Looking at it, there’s a lot happening at youth level,” said Smith. “I didn’t know a lot about it when I came into the job. There’s a great amount of coaches and volunteers who have come in. It’s volunteers who are the main part of the game at youth level.”

“We had a youth development conference recently and one of the questions which was raised was: is there better practice out there? There are a lot of people involved in youth development but there is no determined strategy in terms of the way forward.”

Smith went on to list three main targets, which he believes will go a long way to producing better Scottish players in the future. Firstly, an increase in athleticism in youngsters: “we have to develop more of a culture of health and fitness and that needs to come into the schools,” said Smith

Secondly, the chief executive listed an improvement on technique as playing a critical role the production of better footballers: “rather than the traditional way of big boys winning games, we want to focus on improving technique across the board.”

The third, and arguably the most important point made by Smith was a required change in the mentality of youth football. He underlined the need for  “Trying to get kids to enjoy playing the game and not get put off by the negativity there is in Scotland.”

Henry McLeish echoed Smith’s call for a positive wave to run through the Scottish game. He began by reminding the audience of the tremendous passion football evokes in Scotland.

“Football remains the top sport in Scotland and it will continue to do so. There is a passion here for football not found in England," he said. "It could be equalled in other countries, but never surpassed.”

“This is a nation that comes to a halt when we play Italy at home, when we play Holland at home, where else do you find that commitment?”

McLeish, who is currently in the process of reviewing the development of the youth game, touched upon the highly debated question of facilities in Scotland. Having recently traveled all around the country experiencing all the different youth systems in place, McLeish argues that if Scotland use the facilities on offer to the maximum, we could see a significant improvement.

“In terms of the development of the game, we do need some national direction, we do need a Scotland that will use its facilities to the maximum. Why is it that some of the best facilities we have are in our schools, and there are some schools that are not used?”

The questions from the floor based around the notion of ‘what’s new?’ What is different about this review from the previous report issued by Ernie Walker? McLeish admits that his report may go down the same route as Walker but the former East Fife defender ensured the floor that he was going to propose a number of changes, which could be considered “fairly radical”.

“I can’t promise anything other than a fundamental look at some of the big areas in Scottish football. But I do believe already, that there are changes that I’m proposing which will be regarded as fairly radical in terms of some of the development opportunities that I’ve talked about.”

McLeish concluded his address to the floor by admitting that if the current issues in the youth game in Scotland are addressed, the nation will have a sturdy base from which to work.

“I think if we invest in the youth game, we will build Scotland on a firm foundation to take us forward.”

IC
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