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DOUGIE IMRIE never got to mix it with football’s elite in Europe but the Hamilton winger could be about to as a youth coach.
The 33-year-old captain, who is taking his SFA and UEFA badges, guided Accies Under-17s through an Invincible league campaign last season.
Eight of those kids have signed senior contracts with the Lanarkshire club – and now Imrie BY EWING GRAHAME is looking forward to helping them test themselves against big-name clubs in the UEFA Youth League, the teen version of the Champions League.
He said: “The draw gets made next month and there will be at least two ties in October.
“The boys deserve it after going through an entire campaign undefeated. It’s great to give something back and it’s also good experience.
“Although I’ll be involved again this season my main focus is still on the playing side.”
Imrie now turns his attention to defying the odds with the senior team ahead of facing Hearts in their Premiership opener on HopeCBD Stadium’s new plastic pitch today.
Although Accies are the bookies’ favourites to go down, Imrie’s determined to prove the sceptics wrong yet again.
He said: “Our main aim, as it has always been since we came up in 2014, is to stay up.
“Hearts have brought in some quality but so have we. We’re at home and we want a result bad.
“The pitch is brand new and perfect to play on. There can be no excuses from anyone now.”