Scaling the heights
Liam looking forward to fresh challenge with Rovers
WHEN football historians come together and reflect on the year that was in 2019, they’ll be forgiven for recounting the doom and gloom that has bogged down the sport in this country this year; from Mark Tighe’s tireless investigation into a €100,000 bridging loan the thenchief executive John Delaney had given the Football Association of Ireland, to the very existence of the governing body being called into question following the explosive release of accounts from 2017 and 2018 that laid bare the complete extent of the organisation’s woes.
The off-field scandals, best and most aptly described as akin to a complete ‘s**t-show’, is made to appear all the more disheartening due to the on-field progress that it has overshadowed, across various national age grades.
From the senior women’s team, boasting the likes of Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe, and the Wicklow pairing of Louise Quinn and Claire Walsh, challenging for qualification to the 2020 European Championships, to the under-15 boys’ squad cementing their 100 per cent record this year with a 3-1 win over England on December 15.
Of course, no discussion concerning the merits of Ireland’s playing exploits could be had without talking about the country’s under-21 side, which has captured the nation’s attention through enthralling, high-quality performances against the likes of Sweden, Italy, Brazil, and others.
‘It does show that the standard of player in Ireland is definitely good enough. Darragh Leahy just moved from Bohs to Dundalk, he’s obviously chosen to stay in Ireland because he feels the same thing; the standard of football is on the up,’ says Barndarrig’s Liam Scales, who started this year with the struggling UCD in the Airtricity League Premier Division, and who will end up back in the top-tier of Irish football with Shamrock Rovers in 2020.
‘I think people are starting to realise that the standard of football in this country is a lot better than previously thought. A lot of young players are coming back from England and, instead of maybe giving up because they didn’t make it in England, they’re being brought into League of Ireland clubs and are doing pretty well.’
While still only 21 years of age, Scales has accumulated a lot of experience in his rather short career thus far. Starting with Arklow Town FC at a young age, he made the move to be part of the UCD under-19s in 2015.
It wasn’t long before his talents caught the eye of senior manager Collie O’Neill, who brought Scales into his panel while he was still 17. His initial role was to cover for defenders who had gone down with injuries, but he quickly impressed O’Neill, and became a mainstay in the UCD team that gained promotion from the First Division to the Premier Division in 2018.
Over the course of his time with UCD, which came to an end earlier this year, Scales racked up 93 appearances for the club, and is under no illusions as to the importance that his tenure with the Students represents.
‘I don’t think I’d be where I am now as a player if I hadn’t gone to UCD. Once I got called [into the senior team], I was only 17 and was in the first team, playing week-in, week-out. I don’t think there was really any other team in the country that could have given me that opportunity.
‘I think playing almost 100 league games for UCD was the main reason why I have developed the way that I have. I am really grateful for that.’
From starting the year as a part-time player with UCD, making his debut for Stephen Kenny’s much-lauded Irish under-21s, to sealing a big move to one of the top clubs in Irish football; Liam Scales is all too aware of the promise and optimism surrounding young players coming up through the youth ranks of Irish domestic football.
Scales’ self-classified whirlwind year began shortly before the end of the 2019 Airtricity League season, at the end of which UCD were relegated to the First Division, when Shamrock Rovers first came calling. Stephen Bradley’s side that won their first FAI Cup since 1987 this year, was just one of many clubs that Scales was linked with once his time with the Students came to an end; Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood Town, St. Patrick’s Athletic, and Manchester City were all linked with the Barndarrig-native who went so far as to go on trial with the latters’ under-23s.
Despite the interest expressed in the young defender, to hear the man himself put it, the decision was simple once he was given the Shamrock Rovers tour.
‘The facilities are second to none, in this country anyway. Once I had seen the place, I had a couple of weeks to kind of decide where I was going to go. I had my mind made up, and I thought that
Rovers was the best place to be in the country if you’re young and you want to play football.
‘It was a tough decision, because you have to weigh up a lot of things: where you are going to be living, how much you think you will play as a young player coming into a senior dressing room with established players.
‘I am really happy with my choice to move to Shamrock Rovers, but when you have to weigh up all of these things, it can be tough.’
Before Scales could iron out the fine wrinkles of his move to Rovers, which would end up being finalised in November, there was the small matter of his international debut. That particular milestone would arrive in March, when he was called up to the under-21s by manager Stephen Kenny and played in the team’s 1-0 win over Bahrain in the Toulon Tournament that June.
The result was somewhat disappointing given the performances and promise that the team had shown in the competition up to that point, but Scales was too high above cloud nine to care.
‘It was unbelievable. As a kid, you’re always wanting to play for Ireland. I have played for Ireland and, hopefully, I’ll have more opportunities in the future.
‘It was a great experience, and a proud moment for me, my family and friends, especially because of the path I have taken. I took a different path to other players who have been to England, or have been playing with top clubs in England, while I went through college and played part-time. That makes it an extra special achievement for me.’
The project that Kenny has overseen has gone from being a cautious fascination during the Toulon Tournament, to being a runaway hype-train thanks to spectacular performances in their European Championship qualification campaign, including an exhilarating come from behind 4-1 win over Sweden in November.
This young squad, that features talent such as Connor Ronan, Adam Idah, Zachary Elbouzedi, Darragh Leahy, Lee O’Connor, Jayson Molumby, and the irresistible force that is 17-year-old Troy Parrott, has inspired a level of confidence and faith in the fanbase not seen since the last golden generation of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Matt Holland, and co.
Having been part of this outstanding squad, not only does Scales admit that the players are aware of the excitement and anticipation surrounding the team, but it is something that they are actively revelling in.
‘I think the Italy game, when the Tallaght Stadium was sold-out, was when the players realised that people were really interested, whereas before there might have been four or five hundred people in Tallaght Stadium for under-21 fixtures.
‘The standard of players that are in the team. The results that we have gotten against top teams. The talent that is coming through; Troy Parrott is only 17 and made his Premier League debut last week. It’s great that there is such big interest, and the players are aware of that.’
Given recent occurrences, it is important, albeit increasingly difficult, to keep faith with the recent trends concerning the production of young Irish players. In the past, Ireland have been straddled with a reputation of being unable to nurture players with poise and composure. However, with prodigal talents such as Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, Jayson Molumby, and Liam Scales coming through, football in this country appears to be in safe hands.
As for Liam Scales, now that his short-term, immediate future has been resolved and he can call himself a Hoop, he is looking towards helping the club build on what they achieved in 2019.
‘It is no secret that Shamrock Rovers want to win the league this season. They want to win the cup. They want to qualify for Europe and the group stages of the Europa League. The way things are going, I think that the club is on the up, and I think we have a really good chance of doing those things this year.
‘I am more excited now than I have been joining a new club before. It is my first time in a full-time set-up, and it can’t come quick enough.’