Senior academies come under fire
Kids would be better playing at Junior level, says veteran
OLDER Junior followers may recall Joe Rowan as a midfielder with a thunderous shot, playing with Rob Roy, Baillieston, Yoker Athletic and Vale of Leven in the 1980s.
That was not his only claim to fame as in 1978 he had been Jock Wallace’s first signing after he assumed the reins at Leicester City on the back of his first managerial stint at Ibrox.
On bumping into Rowan at Newlandsfield last Saturday, he expressed some interesting views on senior football academies which he insists are not serving the purpose for which they were set up.
The 54-year-old says Celtic and Rangers are evidence of this as they invariably have to turn to the transfer market whenever they need to strengthen their squads.
He said: “If clubs are going to sack their managers after three defeats on the spin, then you can hardly expect him to play up-and-coming prospects, but these players will never progress without the mental toughness that comes from playing in big games.
“It’s a delicate balance because developing the human being is every bit as important as developing the footballer which is why I would revert to the methods of years ago and make our young talents experience the game at Junior level as part of their footballing education.
“Eric Caldow, Billy McNeill, John Greig, Kenny Dalglish, Colin Stein and Tommy Burns are just some of the names who had a taste and it didn’t appear to do them any harm.”
The main reason for Rowan’s attendance at Newlandsfield was to cast a parental eye over his 22-year-old son Liam, who is the youngest player on the books of Pollok whom he joined a year ago.
Capable of playing midfield or defence, his breeding ground was with Celtic Youths until signing as a 16-year-old for Falkirk boss Steven Pressley. He made just a handful of first-team appearances before being released by Peter Houston in 2015.
A short lived loan spell with Arbroath followed prior to Stranraer boss Brian Reid persuading him to go to Stair Park.
“I just never got a look at the first team and was all for turning my back on the game when my dad came home one night to say an old friend of his at Pollok, Franny McNeil, had invited me to come down and meet the manager Tony McInally,” Liam said.
“I went along to a couple of training sessions and then agreed to play in a game where I did well enough to be asked to sign, even though this was a Pollok side just about to play in the Scottish Junior Cup final against Beith.
“Holding down a jersey in our six games leading up to the final had me dreaming of starting the game so I was both gutted at not being picked, yet elated to be on the substitutes’ bench for such a fabulous occasion.
“I came on along Robbie Winters in the second half and he scored to earn a 1-1 draw but unfortunately we then lost on penalty kicks which otherwise put a damper on a memorable day.”
Liam is not writing off their chances of silverware this season. “Admittedly the Super Premier title is looking a long shot even though we can go second by beating Kilbirnie Ladeside on Saturday, but I’d like to think we are in with a shout of going all the way in the two cup competitions.”