bhoys brigade

Dear NTV,

It was with some trepidation that I learned of George Adams' recent departure from Celtic Park.

Of course Adams' leaving only heralded the snapping up of at least four of Celtic's youth coaches by Motherwell. The most significant of these was Chris McCart who, as is universally acknowledged, was doing some sterling work in his role as coach within the new Celtic Youth Initiative.

Let's look at the bigger picture. Before Eric Black brought George Adams to Parkhead the cream of Celtic's youngsters were playing in a local youth league. They regularly played on red ash pitches and suffered some terrible physical punishment on the park as they were unprotected by incompetent referees. This was often matched by the verbal abuse given out by morons masquerading as parents, vitriolic in their condemnation of anyone - even a child - who dared to wear the Hoops.

Few players of undoubted ability put up with this for very long. They were wooed by the lush green pastures of the Premiership's top clubs and the professional facilities these clubs could offer. Any parent who accompanied their son to visit the likes of Manchester United or even Blackburn Rovers - who own one of the best youth training grounds in Europe - found it hard to return to watch his son compete in the environment I have described above.

Adams changed all this. With Eric Black overseeing the venture, he set out to change the face of professional youth football in Scotland.

The first item on the agenda was to look at the criteria required to become a Celtic player. In years gone by Celtic used to tie up sixteen boys on schoolboy contracts. This practice came to an abrupt halt. Adams only signed players that the backroom staff believed had all the attributes to play in the Celtic first team. Young players who thought they had made it on signing an S form contract were allowed to leave. Celtic made their selections much more astutely than in the past. 'Quality, not quantity', became the mantra and the club broke away from the tenuous link with Celtic Boys Club.

Celtic, for the first time, issued all players from the age of 11 and upwards full sets of training kit. The whole drive was towards instilling a sense of professionalism in the young players.

All players had to report to Celtic Park on Monay nights for 'fast feet' work - a concept borrowed from Ajax - while Wednesdays and Fridays were reserved for professional coaching.

The most significant move of all, however, was the decision to remove the boys from the roughhouse league they played in. Celtic were one of the clubs, at Adams and Black's behest, that formed the Professional Youth League. Young players can now take the field in Celtic colours and play on quality grass surfaces.

The competetive element with regard to awarding of points for a win or a draw was dropped. Teams now play 3 x 30 minute periods with coaching breaks in between. A qualified physiotherapist is in attendance for each team at every match. Parents have been told to keep quiet and leave the coaching to those best qualified to do the job. Trained referees have been enlisted and boys have been withdrawn from schools football.

This last decision was met with acrimonious protests from both players and parents but Celtic have stood firm. If a player breaks the rules he's out, no matter how much ability he has.

The boys have prospered in this new regime. The system is still in place and will, especially in the next few years, produce young players who will undoubtedly find their way into Celtic's first team. There are already many names in the system who are being talked about with relish because of the potential they display within this secure environment.

George Adams did not want to leave Celtic. He was allowed to go. Why would anyone want to leave a club of Celtic's stature to join the likes of Motherwell? Quite simply because they were prepared to pay him what he deserved.

Adams worked his fingers to the bone for Celtic. He presided over a network of scouts who monitored the development of every promising young player in Scotland and Ireland. No player was signed without his approval. The only question was whether the boy was good enough to play in the first team if his development continued. If not then he was allowed to go.

George Adams was instrumental in Sean Maloney's signing. I just hope that when the conveyor belt of talent is finally up and running and we are all watching a fair proportion of young Scottish players once again proudly wearing the Hoops that some credit is given to the man. He deserves it.

PARANOID PAT
Glasgow

November 2001

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