UK Sport and the Scottish and English Institutes of Sport (SIS/EIS), together with the PFA Scotland, are offering unsigned apprentice football players the chance to switch their talents to Olympic sports via the Pitch2Podium initiative.

After piloting the talent transfer project last year with the English football authorities, the UK World Class Talent Team were so impressed by the quality of the applicants that they decided to reopen the invitation and widen the initiative to include Scottish football clubs.

This will be the first of UK Sport’s talent assessment events to take place in Scotland in partnership with the sportscotland institute of sport.
UK Sport’s Head of Athlete Development, Chelsea Warr, said: “Unfortunately, not all of these players are going to make it to the top of the game, but via Pitch2Podium they could transfer the ready-made skills and abilities they have developed into a new sport, and potentially even progress towards the Olympic podium.”

Tony Stanger, former Scottish Rugby International and now Talent Manager at the sportscotland institute of sport, said: “It is great to be partnering with the UK Talent Team to provide young Scottish players who might not make it in football, which is such a hotbed of athletic talent, with a new Olympic opportunity. This initiative could also help us boost Scotland’s talent pool ahead of Glasgow 2014.”

The players will be put through their paces in a battery of physical tests designed to identify those with the potential to thrive in an Olympic sport. The tests will be conducted by SIS and EIS sport scientists and Olympic coaches and hosted in partnership with PFA Scotland’s Careers Day.

Fraser Wishart, Chief Executive of PFA Scotland, said: “PFA Scotland fully supports initiatives that assist players in making the transition from the professional game to future careers, especially as we are finding increasing numbers of players getting released. Pitch2Podium is an excellent opportunity for our members to showcase their natural talent and mental strength in a new arena.”

Hearts FC Captain and Scottish International, Robbie Neilson, said: “Pitch2Podium is such a great idea. I would advise any of the players given the opportunity to try out for another sport to grab it and keep their options open. Representing Great Britain at the Olympics would be an incredible alternative for anyone who doesn't secure a career in football.”