Coaches hold the KEY to our beautiful game’s RECOVERY
SFA chief Maxwell believes football’s unique pull — and the commitment of those who serve it with unwavering passion — will see the sport emerge from lockdown stronger than ever
THE NUMBERS, the studies and the talk of putting football ‘at the heart of the national recovery’ come easily enough to Ian Maxwell.
As chief executive of the Scottish FA, part of his job is to talk up the game at every opportunity.
And he genuinely does believe that a post-lockdown boom in youth football, with kids desperate to get involved in sport for all sorts of reasons, will offset all those fears of a ‘lost generation’.
What makes him so confident? The structure being put in place by his own organisation is part of it, obviously.
The success of both the men’s and women’s national team in qualifying for major finals in recent years doesn’t hurt, either.
More than both of those, though, Maxwell knows that the same sorts of volunteers who guided him during his early steps in football are still out there putting in the hours.
‘Clubs are incredibly well run by individuals whose aim is to give young players the chance to play — and we cannot take that for granted,’ said the former Queen’s Park, Ross County, St Johnstone, St Mirren and Partick Thistle defender. ‘The game as we know it in this country could not function without them.
‘Like so many, I remember playing as often as I could as a youngster — sometimes three games a weekend between school, club and Boys Brigade. I played for local boys’ clubs in Lenzie and Chryston and was spotted by Queen’s Park manager Eddie Hunter at 15 — he knew the Chryston manager through business, so said he would come to a game.
‘I signed for the Under-16s and we used to train on a red ash pitch in front of the main stand at Hampden.
‘Anyone involved will tell you Eddie’s version of sports science was to run until you threw up, but we did what he told us to, didn’t question it and enjoyed almost every minute.
‘At the time, you don’t recognise or appreciate the commitment made by the coaches and club volunteers. But, looking back, they all gave up a huge amount of time to ensure we could make it to training, had clean kit, the pitch was cut and everything was organised. ‘I remember guys like Robert Fitzpatrick and Ian Stevenson at Lenzie who devoted their lives to the club. We also had a coach who was a lorry driver — I can’t remember his name — but he would regularly take training off the back of a long trip.
‘The commitment of these guys and the other volunteers involved in the game will never change. And I see that to this day.’
There arguably isn’t a grassroots coach in the land who can be entirely confident of retaining young players, in particular, after they’ve been away for so long.
There is serious concern that, just as youth football suffered by the absence of school games during the teachers’ strike in the 1980s, many may be lost to the game.
Maxwell remains bullish when asked to compare the two situations, saying: ‘Society has changed dramatically since then and consumption habits have also evolved in the digital age.
‘The impact of Covid-19 cannot be underestimated. But, equally, the recent qualification of both our men’s and women’s national teams in major tournaments gives a tremendous springboard to raise awareness and inspire the next generation to take up football or realise that they can aspire to emulate new heroes.
‘We are motivated to ensure that the grassroots game is mobilised and supported when restrictions are eased and normality — whatever form that takes when the pandemic is overcome — is restored.
‘Research has shown that 780,000 people in this country play football: from mini kickers and fun football at the youngest age groups, to walking footballers and para footballers.
‘Based on the many conversations we have had with our affiliated national associations such as the youth and amateur FAs, we know just how keen players are to return to playing.
‘We are also aware of the need to re-engage and reconnect those who may have lost touch with their
The game as we know it in this country could not function without volunteers
clubs and ensure that football can be enjoyed by everyone.
‘Alongside the challenges there is also opportunity. Footballers at all levels have been starved of action over the last 12 months and will be desperate to get back out on to a pitch as soon as possible.
‘Scottish football needs to be ready for that and ensure anyone who wants has the opportunity to play.
‘Community clubs are the lifeblood of the game — but as our recent UEFA GROW research shows, football generates more than £1bn in social return on investment.
‘It improves general fitness and wellbeing but also improves employability and confidence, and is shown statistically to reduce crime and also prevent disease by staying engaged in a healthy life for longer.
‘Football is a fabric of our society and a key objective is to work more closely with government and the political spectrum to reinforce and leverage the power of football for the nation’s benefit.
‘Throughout lockdown we have worked closely with clubs to ensure that players — especially younger players — can adapt and still participate in football remotely.
‘Obviously nothing beats the feeling of playing football with friends and I believe that as we overcome the virus, we will have a new-found appreciation of the things we maybe took for granted pre-Covid.
‘It is incumbent on us as the Scottish FA to ensure that football is at the heart of the national recovery and that it is accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.’