Not what you know...

I got my son playing for celtic boys in the late 70s because mainly I used to drink up in the Celtic club and I got know some people.

He got games and played well,BUT he quit because of how shocking the system was.

I went up to watch a game once and they brought this lad off the bench. I swear to you he was the best player I had seen since Jinky. He was absolute class. Skinning players for fun and scoring. He could have beaten the team by himself.

The next week I went up and the same again he came off the bench a few mins to go. Skinning players. when I went up next he was no where to be seen.

A few years later I met him SELLING RECORDS in a shop!!! I asked him what the * * he was doing. He told me that the system was corrupt. He couldn't get a game because all the ex-players sons where picked first no matter what. Exactly what my son said to me when he left. And he quit playing football.Another reason was as he put it he 'wasn't in the gang'

Iv always found it disgraceful. That lad would have been a world beater.

Anyone know if its still like this?

 

Boys Club or Pro Youth?

 

Pro youth

 

it seems most players who make have something to do with an ex player or something tbh

 

thats true mate, happened to someone (graham) dorrans i think at rangers, think it was because of the car he turned up in, they all turned there noses up at him, next week john (his dad) borrows a merc, they say 'oh nice car, nice car' , took him out, know him well (graham) cant remember the exact story & club though, ill ask my dad when hes in

 

I had a similar situation at my old team, i had joined a team where alot of the players dad's where good friends with my manager. I was 10× better than one of the lads who's position i played in. In my first 5 games i scored 3 goals from the bench while this lad could barely get a shot on target. I found out his dad and my manager where drinking buddies. I confronted my manager an said what more did i need to do to get into the team, he just said keep trying. I ended up scoring 13 goals all from the bench that season while this lad scored 2. Told my manager he was a * and i was delighted we where pitted to the title.

 

it happened to my brother with rangers pro youth and motherwell pro youth . he was then taken to gretna to sign pro and they collapsed the same month. hes now with a celtic unnoficial boys club. hes a fantastic player too , similar to rhiordan but managers friends sons etc . you know the rest.

 

Maybe the culture of nepotism (as described in this thread) could be a partial cause to the wider malaise in which Scottish Football finds itself, depending on how widespread such a practice is. Although there are some famed examples where a family dynasty emerges, most notably the McStays, these are exceptions to the rule.

Seems bewildering that there would not be cast as wide a net as possible, in order to find the best talents out there. Then again, my knowledge of youth development processes here in Scotland is somewhat limited.

 

happened to me at aberdeen and inverness caley

 

I saw the exact same thing going on when my brother was playing for the boys club in the early 70's.

 

this happens in life in general, not just the footie

 

The world is an easier place depending on who you know - happens in all walks of life. Its the same with jobs at some places - if you know someone who walks there then you have a good chance of getting the job

 

In my country,in Serbia this is big problem to... Red Star for example...

 

This is definately an issue. How many former players of any clubs sons can you think of who have been given a shot at professional football obviously at the expense of somebody else but never do anything. Lennox, Dalgliesh, Ferguson, Strachan all * and I will bet you they did someone out of a contract. A few are good enough, Redknapp maybe but you are not telling me he did it on his own.

I trialed with alot of SPL teams in the 80's and it was rife, nepotism at its worst. Everybody had an uncle so and so or a dad who was somebody. For my own part our teacher who took the school team used to play under Jock Stien so I have no doubt this opened up opportunities for us.

Some of my mates went on to play senior but sufferred the same fate being squeezed out in favour of someones son. In a declining game this does not help us improve and holds us back. As we see today!!

 

Not so much like this now.

 

happened to me aswell at st johnstone jsut because i wasnt one of the big player's and the manger favourite they chucked me

 

I represented my schools region in 5th and 6th year and all players in the squad were signed to professional clubs. Recently I applied for a job, when I went for the interview there were a few guys who were on first name terms with the interviewers. Also during my interview they asked me about how one of my refrences was getting on and how I knew him, the persons father is a prominent figure within the profession.

Made me wonder whether I got so far becasue of my own ability or because of my reference. So I think in some cases its pretty much who you know, not what you know. Hate brown-nosing but unfortunately its the way to get on.

 

my cousin has a similar story to tell allthough his lie with hearts pro youth and livingston pro youth, very good player wasted.

 

this gets me * off,only the best should succeed in all walks of life, it keeps everyone striving to get better than the best player and this kills the competitive edge in players ,no wonder standards have plummeted.

 

And they wonder why theres no talent coming through.