Charlie Christie – Highland youngsters have hope with backing available
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Whilst the North of Scotland wasn’t as badly affected by storm Eunice as much of the UK it did affect our youth academy fixtures with all our matches, both home and away, against Ayr United last weekend having to be postponed due to waterlogged pitches and travel difficulties.
What made it even more disappointing was that it was the first match back in the SFA Club Academy Scotland youth programme after the extended winter break and players and coaches alike were looking forward to getting back into it.
The much maligned ‘Project Brave’ initiative has been extended for a further year due to Covid and the fixtures were emailed to all clubs recently.
It really hit home what a challenging prospect it is as we have well in excess of TWO HUNDRED youth matches to be played between now and mid- December!
For ourselves and our Highland counterparts Ross County this offers up an incredible amount of travel and organisation as we look to compete at the seven age levels from under-11 to under-18.
However, we have fared very well in recent times in youth matters and, when I attended a recent friendly match at under-14 level between ourselves and County.
it was probably the most enjoyable match I’ve seen in Inverness for quite some time.
A very large turnout of family and friends for both sides witnessed a highly competitive game not short on skill and ability.
It was pleasing to see players in both sides with the potential to go far in the game. In our ICT squad that day we had players from Glencoe, Skye and Elgin and the commitment from our ‘out of town’ players throughout the academy is fantastic.
It was also great to see Ross County CEO Steve Ferguson attend and offer up valuable coaching advice to the County youngsters and huge credit to Stevie for doing this.
I’m delighted that one of football’s ‘good guys’ is thriving in his new role but can still find the time to get involved at the foundation level of his club.
It also made me think of a conversation I had at a recent first team game in the stadium boardroom when a guest questioned me over the perceived ‘false hope’ we might give our youngsters as they progress through our academy and it’s not the first time I’ve had this discussion.
It’s a matter I feel very strongly about as I witness first hand the terrific work that goes on almost every evening of the week as our academy coaches.
All of whom are SFA qualified and PVG safety checked, plan and deliver coaching sessions to over 100 young players.
I have mentioned on numerous occasions the benefits and life skills gained by these youngsters as they make new friends, keep fit, learn about healthy life choices and enjoy their football as we attempt to make them better and
more rounded individuals.
Yes, we are always looking for that diamond who comes through the system and makes it to our first team and, as a professional football club, that is one of our main goals, but we also make each parent aware how difficult it can be to get to that level.
If anyone tells me that offering up that opportunity to any aspiring young Highland footballer isn’t a positive, then they are quite simply wrong.
Last Saturday exemplified this as the only bright light for me in a poor home defeat by Ayr was the fact that four of our academy players played in the game at various stages with young Lewis Nicolson managing to notch his first goal for the club. Lewis is one that joined ICT at primary school age and has grown and developed over time into a hugely likeable and popular young adult with undoubted potential to go further in the game – another shining example for all young budding sports stars in the Highlands!
