It used to be poorer kids were the best players, we now don’t want to be in a situation where some families with little money are being lost to the game
Quitongo backs charity giving the youngsters access to footie
IT used to be jumpers for goalposts over the summer holiday in Scotland.
There’s no chance youngsters will drop their Ralph Laurens on the deck these days, even if it is one of these fancy 80 quid-an-hour 4G astroturf pitches.
The game’s changed with football in danger of becoming a middle-class sport in this country, with thousands of kids from underprivileged backgrounds unable to stump up to get involved.
They used to be the driving force of Scottish football, now they are being left on the hard shoulder as the shiny 4x4s speed past on the way to training.
At least the problem is starting to be recognised. Former Dundee United star Andy McLaren’s A&M Scotland is already helping more than 2500 kids in poverty get into the game and a new venture is on the rise in South Lanarkshire.
Set up by Lesley Robertson, the Juniors Football Academy in Hamilton aims to help children of all families, in particular those of low-income parents, enjoy regular access to football and fitness.
Former Hearts and Hamilton player Jose Quitongo was the ideal man to help launch it. He runs his own academy and knows a thing or two about overcoming the odds to play the sport he loves.
He said: “When I was growing up in Angola we didn’t have things like PlayStations or anything. We didn’t need them.
“My family did okay but no one had much. All we had was football, football,
football. It was t-shirts on the ground, if we couldn’t get a ball we’d have plastic bags wrapped up in wire.
“It’s funny when you see kids today wearing all the fancy coloured boots – we’d play in our bare feet. We were on the streets morning, noon and night.
“I was lucky, I was spotted by scouts from Benfica and I went to Portugal when I was around 10. But back then I only played for a love of the game.”
Quitongo might have grown up in Africa but it’s not such a different story to Scotland a generation ago.
He’s seen how tough it can be now though for families who simply don’t have the cash to keep up.
He said: “There’s the cost for pitch hire, the equipment is so expensive.
“You see kids wearing boots that cost £150, it’s crazy. I say to them, you might have £150 boots but the boots don’t make you a player.
“Football has changed. You see the big fancy cars pulling up for training and the children coming out with all the expensive gear. All of that stuff shouldn’t matter.
“It is hard for families though. How can they give a child £10 or £20 a week or a month for football when they’re struggling to provide food?
“It used to be the less well-off areas provided the best footballers. I’m sure it was the same in Scotland but we don’t want to be in a situation when the people without money are being lost to the game.
“You don’t see the kids out playing in the parks any more. You drive past big patches of grass and there are signs, ‘Keep off the grass’. It’s crazy!
“It’s not just about developing professional players. It’s about letting young people enjoy football, be active and involved. That is what schemes like this are so important.
“It’s more important to have as many involved in the game they love from all kinds of different backgrounds.”
The founder is fuelled by a drive to help families. The Families Like Us charitable organisation is involved in numerous projects, including the Junior Play Cafe in Hamilton where the football academy will be based and provide free access for youngsters.
Robertson said: “I actually hate football! My son Kyle loves it though and this came about through him.
“He is eight and wanted to join a club. I started to see the costs involved and it was unbelievable.
“I’m fortunate we could afford for him to play but I just thought there must be so many kids who are not in that position.
“This will be open to those from single parent or low-income families, the ones who rely on foodbanks and so on.”
● To find out more about the Juniors Football Academy, sponsored by Hot Flames World Buffet, contact Juniors Play Cafe Hamilton via the Facebook or Instagram pages “21st Century Girl UK”.
I say to the kids you might have £150 boots but the boots don’t make you a player JOSE QUITONGO