Roll & square then off to park. Boots in one hand, bottle of Lucozade in other. Best of my childhood times, playing with pals. That’s where you learn people skills, manners and teamwork - things to serve you well in life not just in game

web

my primary school. I’d go down there aged three and four, before I started school. “My dad would take me and let me shoot at him. “I was constantly at him and my sister to go with me there so I could kick a ball. “At school there was a Thursday club every week – the girls would disappear and do their stuff and the boys would play football. “It was run by parents, a guy called Joe Ward especially, who volunteered their time. “Joe is still involved in a lot of grassroots football in our area around Motherwell and Wishaw, I see him around a lot. “You’d get penalty kicks at the end and if you scored you’d get a bag of crisps as your reward. “One of the guys there said I should join a club – and the local team was Netherton FC. “I was six and my coach was Peter Reilly. It was mixed age groups initially but when we got put into groups he moved me up one to the 96s, playing a year above my age. “It was the same experience as most kids – training, games every Saturday morning. “The pitch was just up the road from me, about 10 minutes away, so I’d walklk up, bbootst iin one hhand,d bbottle ttl of Lucozade in the other – after a roll on sausage for breakfast obviously! It was brilliant, I loved it so much.

“Get your boots on, get out there and play. It’s still in my head as the best, most enjoyable time of my childhood. Playing with your pals.”

At that age, your coach is rarely ever just a coach. A dressing room is rarely just somewhere to pull your boots on. It’s a school away from school –and Tierney eloquently expresses his appreciation

“Guys like Peter,” he insisted, “they’re there to teach you about more than football. I read a great Ronaldinho quote: ‘You learn about life with a ball at your feet.’

“I can relate to that. I can’t remember anything other than football but in that environment, under guys like Peter, that’s where you learn all your people skills, your manners, ability to be part of a team.

“They’re things that serve you well in life, not just in the game.”

Tierney’s Celtic story has been well documented, the baby-faced pics of his progress through the ranks appearing with every fresh milestone reached.

But he’s no less thankful for the contribution of those who gave up their time for him now he’s a fixture in the first team.

He said: “I was seven when Celtic scouted me so it got serious quiteit earlyl andd I diddidn’t’t gett tto enjoyj the fun side of football for long.

“I still had my roll on sausage until about last year, right enough!

“We’d train at Hamilton Palace on a Friday night. John McStay scouted me – he came over one day at Netherton training.

“Sometimes you’d know if there were scouts there – that someone from Motherwell or Hibs was coming along – but we didn’t know McStay was there. “After the game Peter shouted on my dad to go and have a chat. Ten minutes after that he says: ‘You’ve got a trial with Celtic.’

“And I’m like: ‘Shut up, man. No chance.’

“It was Hughie McGovern, who’s the kitman for the U20s now, and Martin Millar who’s a coach in the academy.

“Martin was the guy who I’d still say had the biggest influence on me and my life.

“I still speak to him most days and have so much to thank him for since I was about seven.

“You couldn’t actually sign with Celtic until you were nine or 10 so I was still playing boys’ club football, training Tuesday and Thursday with them, Friday with Celtic, playing a game Saturday.

“You were only allowed to train for them in six-week blocks. Every time you had to get asked back for the next one – every six weeks for two years and I was alwaysl panickingiki ththatt I wouldn’t ld ’t get asked back the next time. You got a wee letter every time to say they want you back.”

At 21, you’ve barely had time to assemble regrets – but if Tierney has even the kernel of one, it’s that he didn’t get to enjoy the other cornerstone of kids’ football, playing with his mates at school.

“I played at St Brendan’s,” he said. “I remember going to a tournament and we were in P4 playing against P7s.

“It was so unfair and we were getting beat 10-0 every game.

“But by the time I got to Our Lady’s High School I was being told not to play by the club in case I got injured.

“I still played the odd game – and if I did it was in goals!

“It was Miss McNeish who took the team, Chris and Nicky Cadden were there at the time too.

“It was a shame we didn’t get the chance but even my mum and dad were worried, saying ‘You better not play in case anything happens.’

“It takes a bit of the fun out of football when that happens.

“You’re still so young and you treasure just playing with your

Sunday Mail

palsl sometimes,ti whenh you are that age.

“But in the long run, who knows what could have happened?

“We’d still jump the fence at the school and go and play together sometimes – red ash parks and everything. They were brutal but it was the only place that had goals and you didn’t need to pay.

“Obviously, it’s a different world for me now but there are some things I won’t change – and being around the guys at the Bullfrog on Sundays is one of them.

“These awards are great. I love the fact there’s a chance for all the guys in amateur football, youth football, schools football, to get some credit – because it’s long overdue for what they do in their

communities.”

GORDON Aberdeen, Celtic,

“A man called Edinburgh Tom Aitken took Thistle. He my boys’ club Primary and was the janny looking back at Groathill guys worked. you realise how I invited Tom hard these Aberdeen to games wh “The and I think he en I was at game consumed appreciated about that. a lot of him – and that’s these guys. When you the thing learn what’s you play for made us right and what’s them train hard, looked wrong. They gave us values. after us and most is That’s why it’s of all now a chance, fantastic there Awards, through the Grassroots to give these for what guys appr they do. eciation and I hope folk tell MailSport write in people about these – they deserve it.”

59