Caol’s Ruaridh has world at his feet

A young man from Caol has turned his passion for football into a full time job which has taken him round the world as an international and domestic coach for Celtic Football Club.

Ruaridh Macinnes, 23, left Lochaber High School to study sports at college in Glasgow but was also accepted for a place on the Celtic’s Pathway to Coaching course. On completion he was one of only two members of the class to be offered a position with the club.

Since then Ruaridh has travelled the world coaching youngsters in locations including Chicago, Montreal, across Australia and in Scotland and Ireland.

In his ‘own time’ he is also head coach of Clyde FC Under 19s and coaches Glasgow Gladiators’ disabled footballers in their leagues.

Since lockdown has prevented Ruaridh from travelling, he has set up his own coaching business in Glasgow, RM Academy, using outdoor grass pitches to meet Covid regulations. He has taken on two extra coaches, running up to 25 sessions each weekend.

He is also using lockdown to complete his college studies and gain additional coaching and football-related qualifications.

He said: ‘It is great coaching for Celtic. I was so lucky to get on their course when I moved to Glasgow, then to get a job which I love which takes me around the world. I was due to spend several weeks in different countries last year and this year, but obviously this isn’t possible at the moment.

‘I am using this time to gain more qualifications which will help to take my coaching further and was lucky enough to set up RM Academy just before lockdown. It is great to carry on coaching young people through this when times are really difficult for them.’