I knew when Jack was eight that he would be great
Former coach on Scotland star
Bosses at Glenafton Athletic have told of their immense pride at seeing one of their own run out at the Euros for Scotland.
Glens are cheering on their latest success story as Jack Hendry takes part in the nation’s first major tournament for 23 years. The towering centre back, currently with Celtic after a loan spell in Belgium, has had former coaches beaming with joy at his rise to stardom.
It all started in the grassroots of Ayrshire football at the New Cumnock club as Jack began his journey — and take it from his former coach — he did it the hard way.
John Stewart, 60, now the secretary at Loch Park, has vivid memories of a young shy kid with bags of ability showing up when he was just eight-years-old.
At the time as a coach, John could see straight away that Jack was a stand out.
Playing in the same side as current Talbot star and ex-Ayr United man, Mark Shankland, the Glenafton under 8s were a team of winners.
Reflecting on the early days, John told the Post : “I signed Jack when he was only eight-years-old.
“He’s a local lad just from down the road at Annbank.
“He was really shy at first but you could see the ability was there.
“Him and Mark Shankland would always stand out, we were some team.
“I said to the Celtic scout at the time to take a look at them and they signed them up.
“You could just always tell Jack wanted to be a football player, he always pushed himself, he was always looking to improve.”
With young Jack in the side, the team celebrated success going two years
unbeaten with the defender also helping his side to success in Europe winning the Amsterdam Cup.
From Celtic, Jack switched to Partick Thistle before heading down south to Wigan Athletic before returning to Scotland to Dundee and on to Celtic again in 2018.
Add in loan spells at KV Oostende in Belgium and Melbourne City in Australia and you understand exactly how hard he has worked.
And Hendry completed his journey to the top by being named in Scotland’s starting line-up for Monday’s Euros opener against the Czech Republic.
The classy centre half almost pulled his country back into the game early in the second half when clipping a shot off the bar.
And his grind to stardom certainly comes as no surprise to those who know him best.
John added: “Jack’s done things the hard way, he’s a journeyman but he’s never given up.
“I’ve kept in touch with him all these years.
“He made a decision to move down south when he was in his early 20s — that shows the commitment he has had to the game.”
Jack will join a long line of stars who are part of the Glens Hall of Fame including Kirk Broadfoot, who also has Scotland caps.
But after such a long wait to see Ayrshire players at a major tournament John is sure this one feels different and is sure to inspire a new generation of Ayrshire footballers.
He added: “We have a great history here at Glens.
“Jack is now part of that.
He is proof that if you have that ability it doesn’t matter if you’re starting in New Cumnock.
“To be able to walk out at Wembley in the Euros for Scotland will be a proud moment for everyone.
“We’ll all be roaring Jack on that’s for sure.”
You could tell Jack wanted to be a football player, he always pushed himself, he was always looking to improve John Stewart
David Hopkin has pledged to put his players through the pain barrier as they return to training this week.
The United manager and his squad will hit Ayr Racecourse from today (Wednesday) for three days of gruelling running sessions round the track.
And Hopkin says he will use the boot camp to get his men in peak shape.
He told the Post: “This is a vital few days for me.
“It’s important to see who’s been doing the right things over the summer and this will immediately tell me that.
“The racecourse is a fantastic facility which has been made available to us and I’m sure we’re going to get a lot out of these sessions.”
Hopkin will welcome back only signed players to the initial racecourse camp this week.
Trialists will then join the squad from next week as the boss continues his trawl for new faces, with a goalkeeper and striker remaining top of the shopping list.
“We’ve been very near on a couple, but with football it’s never done until it’s done,” said Hopkin.
Four goalkeepers, including two from England, will take part in training over the coming weeks in a bid to win deals.
And Hopkin will also run the rule over potential options to fill vacant jerseys in the middle to front of his team.
He said: “We’ve lost nine players from the squad over the summer and signed only four, so there’s definitely work to be done in that regard.
“But as I keep saying, it’s all about staying patient right now.
“We need to sign the right ones and we will.”
Ayr had sold over 400 season tickets as of Tuesday ahead of the new campaign.
The club shifted 750 last term. Commercial manager Graeme Miller said: “The increasing likelihood is that only season ticket holders will gain access to our first games, so never has the need been greater to have your ticket.”