大象传媒

Why is Scottish football in trouble?

  • Published
Celtic manager Neil Lennon at Europa League draw against UdineseImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Celtic manager Neil Lennon at Europa League draw against Udinese

Celtic are bottom of their group in the Europa League after a 1-1 home draw with Udinese.

This was a second chance for them. Had the team that beat them in August Scion not been kicked out of the tournament for fielding ineligible players, Scotland wouldn't have had a single representative in Europe for the first time in the Europa league history.

Fans say part of the problem with Scottish football is too many foreign players, and a lack of emphasis on developing young Scottish talent.

We went to a top footballing school near Glasgow to find out if clubs and schools are working together to remedy that problem.

Ian Donaghe, 29, football rep at Bishopbriggs Academy

Image source, bbc

"One of the biggest challenges we face in schools football is the approach of the pro youth teams in discouraging their players from playing scghools football.

"In Scotland's heyday school football was incredibly popular here. Now, clubs don't think the best players are playing for schools, so less scouts come and watch games and real talent is slipping through the net."

Gordan Mosedale, 49, Headteacher

Image source, bbc

"When I started, schools football was the most important thing, clubs couldn't stop students from playing, and the SFA supported that.

"The whole thing's now gone full circle, schools are at the bottom of the pecking order. Players are missing out too, not playing in school teams. It's a missed opportunity all round."

Lee Davison, 16, pupil

Image source, bbc

"I've never seen scouts at school games. I think there should be because there's loads of talent getting missed.

"I've trained with professional sides and you can learn more from school games because you're not doing training drills, but are in a pressured situation, totally zoned in."

Darren Lyon, 16, pupil

Image source, bbc

"I train with a professional team who are understanding, they let me play for the school, as long as it doesn't interefere with training.

"You can feel you're missing out though because you get don't get much game time and it all adds up. I don't see many scouts at school matches either."