Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Courts in charge for the Tangerines at Livi today — but who is he?
LIFE has slowed down but, at times, it can still come at you fast.
That truth is something we have all learned during the coronavirus pandemic and Dundee United’s unlikely lad Thomas Courts is no different.
Back in February, prior to the world being turned upside down, Courts last spoke to the media to introduce himself as the United academy head of tactical performance.
When I say ‘the media’, I mean this solely this writer, with no other regional or national publications covering the press event.
Fast forward to this week and he’s the centre of attention at Tannadice as he prepares to lead a Covidstricken Terrors into the Lions’ den as stand-in boss.
Due to an outbreak of the virus in the Tangerines coaching staff, nine players and the whole first-team backroom team have gone into isolation, including manager Micky Mellon.
That means the 39-year-old will step in for this afternoon’s trip to Livingston, but just who is Thomas “Tam” Courts?
In many ways, Courts’ life in football is fairly typical for a Scottish coach.
His playing career began, funnily enough, at Livi where Courts cut his teeth as a young centre-half.
Although West Lothian is where he started out professionally, Courts found success throughout his career at home in Fife in the lower leagues and junior football.
He joined Kelty Hearts on three separate occasions.
Two were as a player but there was also five years as player-manager of the Lowland League champions from 201318, taking the club from languishing in the juniors to the cusp of league football.
With rumours he was hoping to take on a managerial role in the SPFL, Courts resigned, ending an 11-year association with the club to be replaced by Rangers legend Barry Ferguson.
In the 12 months that followed, he interviewed at Sheffield United, West Ham and an opportunity in Holland at NAC Breda was considered, too.
To the surprise of some, he took up a role at Andy Goldie’s United academy at the start of the year.
From taking age group football with kids as young as nine to instructing the United top team at Almondvale today, it’s quite the change for Courts.
However, you feel he will be able to apply what he learned at Kelty to the occasion. After all, despite his lack of experience and notoriety at Premiership level, this is a seasoned coach.
A Uefa A Licence coach, Courts’ role at Tannadice is geared towards shaping modern footballers and potential stars of the future for United by helping them understand the tactical side of the game.
And it’s something he takes great pride in.
Speaking back in February, he said: “I think within the academy set-up what we’re trying to do is give them a technical and tactical framework that can allow them to maximise their potential.
“It’s actually also about surviving and thriving domestically and playing within Scotland.
“It’s a club on an upward trajectory again and they’ve got a phenomenal reputation historically for developing young players.
“There’s a blueprint and something ingrained within the club. If you look at the profile of the type of player this club tends to produce there’s a creative flair but we want to help by giving them as much information as possible.”