Scottish game could learn from Faroes
SCOTLAND Under-17s are top seeds in their European Championships group.
But Maurice Ross reckons the Scots’ tournament opener against the Faroe Islands on May 3 will be a walk on the wild side rather than a stroll in the park.
The young Scots breezed into the Finals in Croatia with a 100% record in their six qualifiers, and impressive away victories in Portugal and Switzerland.
The Faroes, who have qualified for the first time ever, can’t touch Scotland in terms of population or football infrastructure.
But former Rangers star Ross, currently manager of Faroese league leaders Royn, reckons the minnows have got something money can’t buy.
“I try to look at these things logically,” said Ross.
“With a population of less than 50,000, the Faroe Islands are punching well above their weight at Under17 level.
“So how have they done it? It’s not infrastructure and it’s not coaching. Neither exists here the same way they do in, say, Iceland.
“But what kids here do have in absolute spades is genuine enthusiasm and a relentless desire to play football.
“The place is in the middle of the North Atlantic. It’s that windy, the sheep are clinging onto the mountains!
“But every single day I have to kick 10-15 kids off our pitch so we can train.
“After that, they don’t go home. They stand and watch the whole session, then they’re running back on to play when we’re finished.
“They might not have a load of UEFAlicenced coaches here, but the kids put the hours in, just playing the game amongst themselves – and that’s worth its weight in gold.
“And they’ve got that ‘wee man syndrome’. So they’re feisty, they’re determined, and they’ll give any team, no matter who, a scrap.”
While astroturf pitches exist in every Faroes town – as they do in most of Scotland – the big difference is that kids are encouraged to use them rather than being locked out.
“Facilities aren’t padlocked here,” said Ross, who encountered a similarly communityminded approach whilst managing in Norway.
“Each town has its astro pitch and that’s the only place to play.
“They aren’t surrounded by 30-foot fences and padlocked shut, either – they’re open for kids to use.
“That’s how it should be in Scotland.
“We talk a lot about how we need better facilities, more indoor facilities.
“There aren’t any indoor facilities in the Faroe Islands, but there is open access to the facilities they do have.
“Scotland could learn from that.
“Keeping kids out of them is just a waste.”