Scotland’s men can get lesson in success from women’s game

Achieving success at the highest level of any sport inspires kids who need heroes and role models.

Look at the popularity of tennis after Andy Murray’s heroics gave it a bounce.

And Scotland’s medal haul at Commonwealth and Olympic Games has been a catalyst for club memberships to rocket.

That’s why it’s a tragedy Scotland’s men’s football is on a downward spiral.

The men’s team’s failure in the qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia last week leaves their World Cup hopes on the edge.

Imagine the boost to our esteem that would come with winning a place at a major finals after so long on the sidelines?

Instead it looks like yet another no-show for Scotland.

We all want our young footballers to improve to a level where they can be future stars but you also need the players currently at the top to inspire them to be the best they can be.

You know what? The men’s game could learn from the way the women’s game is developing.

Scotland Women have qualified for the 2017 European Championships and the game is thriving at grassroots level.

And our participation in Holland next year should raise the profile of the sport to even higher levels.

The women’s game has come on in leaps and bounds. Standards and facilities are improving all the time.

When I was at primary school there were no girls’ teams or organised games. I had to play with Cunninghame Boys Club from the age of nine.

Now, if you wander down to a public park on a Saturday morning you are just as likely to see two girls’ teams playing each other as a boys’ match.

Girls’ teams are sprouting up all over the place. The day can’t be far off when there are as many females as males playing football.

That would be incredible and maybe a wake-up call for the SFA and SPFL.

Young players are the lifeblood of our game, male and female.

The more that come into the system, the more cash is available to develop the game and make future success more likely.

I don’t think there’s much wrong with the current Pro Youth System – I would love something similar in the women’s game – but popularity and participation are linked to success.

The structure of the women’s game suits us at the moment and the time and effort put in by players and coaches is incredible.

The sheer dedication of all the unpaid volunteers is the foundation for our growing success.

And we’ve some great role models involved in the national set up – like Pauline Hamill, who has 140 caps, and Pauline McDonald. Girls want to follow in their footsteps and emulate legends.