Dom helps out young football stars
Twenty-one-year-old wants to give something back
A trip to Nandos or sitting on the couch watching a Netflix TV series are two of the things you might find a young professional footballer doing with his time away from the training pitch.
But for 21-year-old Dom Thomas it is about getting out in his local community and lending his experience to aspiring youngsters keen to make a career in the beautiful game.
The fresh-faced Motherwell forward is enjoying life at Fir Park after returning from a successful loan spell at Queen of the South.
And while some of his fellow Steelmen teammates will hit the gym or venture home to put their feet up after training, Dom will be out with the cones and a bag of footballs to help kick start his own soccer academy in Rutherglen.
“I’ve got a lot of spare time and when I was growing up I never got as much help as there is out there now,” said the former Trinity High pupil. “If I had the chance for a professional player to come down and train me when I was at a young age it would have been a great opportunity.
“For me to give a couple hours a week back to the local kids, that would be great for me and I’d feel good about myself for doing that.”
Based in the South Lanarkshire Lifestyle Centre which is next to Trinity High School, Dom has been working hard to get the word out about his classes.
And so far it’s all been good news for the Westburn resident.
The ex-St Bride’s pupil has been inundated with requests by parents hoping a bit of extra help can see their youngster flourish into the next big thing in Scottish football.
“We just launched it last week but the response we’ve had back has been good,” Dom said.
“I had been thinking about it for a while really and then I decided to go ahead with it.
“I got a bit of help to get the word out there on the street.
“With me being from here and growing up here it would mean a bit more. Obviously to help any kid out is good but to help a local kid out is even better.
“I was one of them not long ago, coming through, loving football and trying to make it in the game. Lucky enough I got my break and I just want to give these kids the best chance to make that breakthrough.”
And while preparing to develop the next generation of footballers from the Rutherglen, Cambuslang and surrounding areas, Dom has been working hard to get fit for Motherwell’s 2017/18 campaign.
Spending half a year playing in Dumfries has been beneficial according to Dom, who is now aiming to make a big impact at Motherwell and in the SPFL Premiership this season.
“Motherwell has been great. We’ve been back in pre-season training this week and I’m feeling really good.
“I’m looking forward to the next season starting.
“I’ve already got 50 appearances under my belt for Motherwell and then I went out on-loan at Queen of the South for six months and I played every game there which was great for me.
“But the main aim for this season is to do well for Motherwell and do well for myself.”
At the age of seven, Dom joined Celtic’s youth academy where he stayed until his mid teens.
He then moved to Motherwell, is a Scotland under -21 internationalist, and is on the verge of becoming a first team regular at the North Lanarkshire outfit.
At 21, he’s still got his whole career ahead of him and insists he’s got the knowledge to bring young footballers through.
He is also adamant the academy is not him preparing for life after professional football.
“I’m still young and still playing the game but I feel I’ve been in the game long enough.
“I’ve been playing football for as long as I could walk.
“I’ve got a good knowledge of the game and it will be good to give something back to young kids coming through.”
For more information about Dom’s soccer school, visit https://www.facebook.com/ domthomassoccerschool/
Lucky enough I got my break and I just want to give these kids the best chance to make that breakthrough