Matt picks up prize for youth success
Youth Coach of the Season was collected by Matt McGrandles for his continued development of youth rugby at the club.
A former club captain and member of the 1995 championship-winning side, Matt has been working hard with his coaching team to develop real strength and depth in the under 18s over a number of years now and the award recognises that journey the team have been on.
This season they defended their title as the Presidents Conference Champions, going through the term undefeated before retaining their title as Youth Cup champions.
The reputation for a great spirit and player development in the team resulted in a squad of 40 players signing up for the Under 18s which enabled the club to put out two teams - one in the Presidents Conference and one in the Caledonia Tier 4 U18 Conference – which the team also won.
A club spokesperson said:“Like so many coaches across Scotland, Matt volunteers and gives up his time to plan out, run the training sessions and coach the players on game days. It is the atmosphere created in the squad and engagement of the coaching staff and players that Matt has nourished and developed that have helped with this extraordinary success.
“He does not just look at what is required now, he thinks about the future of the current players and the players that will be the U18s in the future. Matt is passionate about creating a pathway into the 18s and from the 18s into the 1st XV and has worked with other coaches at the club to ensure players from last year’s squad and even from this year’s squad have been able to develop and play for the club’s senior 2nd and 1st XVs.
“By working in a co-ordinated way the Stirling County Academy, the development of the players in terms of physical skills, technical skills and overall mental capabilities are considered together to help the players progress as a team and as stronger young men ready for the next stage in their life and career as they progress into senior rugby.”
Matt said:“It’s a great honour to lead the set up at 18s level at the club with a coaching and management team that are dedicated to developing the next batch of senior player at the club.
“For me, winning Scottish Rugby’s Youth Coach of the Year recognises the efforts of my combined management team Chris Faill, Keith Russell, Mark Beckett and my team manager Bryan Thomson and of course the dedication and commitment of a fabulous group of players at Stirling County. I am extremely proud to have received this award.”