Playing to her strengths

The scandal engulfing youth football should not overshadow the work of dedicated volunteers like Lorna McAuley. Michael Alexander meets a sporting heroine

It doesn’t matter whether they are going to be your next superstar or not. If they want to play they should play

She has been described as the “heartbeat” of East Fife Youth Academy.

Soccer mum Lorna McAuley oversees an incredible squad of aspiring football stars, including 15 boys teams, 19 after-school clubs, an over-35s team and a walking football class.

Her commitment involves at least four evenings a week at meetings, events or training, and she spends most weekends at youth football games.

So it’s a surprise to learn that when the mother of three was growing up in the East Neuk, she barely paid any attention to the sport, beyond following her local amateur team, St Monans Swallows.

It was only in 2010 when her eldest son Jamie – then 10 – started showing an interest in football that she signed him up for East Fife Juniors and found herself falling in love with the game.

It was a fortunate coincidence for the young people of Levenmouth, Methil and surrounding areas, since she quickly became a major driving force behind the successful academy which gives hundreds of them a positive channel for their youthful exuberance today.

“It’s like everything else,” Lorna, 37, laughs. “They needed volunteers and I got roped in.”

Lorna first became administrator, then vice chairwoman of Jamie’s club, and when East Fife Youth and East Fife JSC merged in 2013, she became head of the East Fife Youth Academy.

Her rapport with the chairman of East Fife FC means academy children get to interact with the club, either playing on the pitch at half-time, flag bearing or going to matches. And she tirelessly seeks out opportunities to benefit children within the academy, and the local community. It is this desire to open up football to everyone – no matter their ability – that drives her on.

“Back when I started , it was all about IF you were selected to play a game,” she says. “Only the best players got to play. But we have totally changed the philosophy of the club now. Everybody gets a game.

“That’s one of the reasons I primarily got involved. It’s still a passion of mine that there should be a place for every child to play football.

“It doesn’t matter whether they are going to be your next superstar or not. If they want to play they should play.”

Today the youth academy caters for children as young as 18 months, who attend parent and toddler classes, right up to pensioners taking part in walking football. And there are football boot banks to help cover costs for families struggling in one of the most economically challenged parts of Scotland.

Participants benefit in all kinds of ways, from increased physical activity levels to boosted mental wellbeing. And Lorna loves every minute.

“If they are out the house twice a week training and a game at the weekend, that’s three times they are not in front of an Xbox, a television or sitting eating rubbish,” she says.