A dream come true for academy coach

A Blantyre Soccer Academy coach has thanked the club and players as she embarks on a new career at Celtic Football Club.

Laura Daly, herself also a football player, joined the ranks at BSA back in December 2017 on the back of a five-anda-half year spell working at Motherwell Community Trust.

The 28-year-old then made the move to BSA as she was looking for a fresh challenge of building up a girls’ pathway within the academy, as they didn’t have any female set-up prior to her joining the club.

Since joining the BSA team two years ago, Laura has helped install a full girls’ football pathway for under-9s, 11s and 13s.

She also successfully ran a soccer centre for the younger girls and helped plan and deliver an October camp in 2018 for less privileged kids in the Blantyre area, only charging a non-perishable item of food for entry instead of money.

Laura told the Advertiser this week:

“It’s been a busy two years at BSA having helped set up their girls’ teams as well as putting girls forward for regional trials and more girls forward for the Scottish Football Association development centre.

“On the back of my work at Blantyre, Martin Miller from the Celtic Girls Academy approached me, asking me to join their set-up for 2020 onwards.

“I’m delighted to have been approached by such a huge club, both in the footballing world and, personally, being a Celtic fan myself.

“I can’t wait to add it to my list of achievements as it’s an absolute dream come true.

“But I have to thank everyone at Blantyre Soccer Academy for their support over the years, including the parents and players and I wish them all the best going forward.

“It’s been a great club to work for and has helped set me in good stead for this fabulous opportunity at Celtic.

“I would also like to take this time to thank Celtic Girls Academy for offering me this next step in my coaching career and I can’t wait to get started!”