SCOTT ANDERSON

Any Youth Academy at any club has one principle aim – producing players for the first team. To do that, they must provide young players with the opportunity to fulfil their potential as they look to earn a professional contract and eventually play in the Aberdeen first team.

A lot of work has been done at AFC in recent years to make that journey as straightforward as possible and playing a major role in that is Senior Youth Academy Coach, Scott Anderson.

Scott spoke to us recently and started by explaining his role.

“I am a senior youth academy coach so my main role is within the Youth Academy. Alongside that, I also assist Paul Sheerin with the U20s, so I sit in the middle between the professional side and the academy side of the club and my role involves trying to provide a smoother transition for any of the first year professionals coming in. The Youth Academy really is about trying to find a pathway from the academy to the professional ranks. All that keeps me busy!

“In particular, I feel my job is to make sure there is a steady flow between the youth academy and the professional side and I do feel there are more and more players down the lower age groups that we should be quite excited about. We have just got to provide them with the pathway and help them along the way. Ultimately though, it is down to the players to do the best they can and realise the opportunity they have got at this football club.

“There are a lot of very exciting players knocking on the door. We have four boys involved with the Scotland U15 set up, we have a similar number with the U16s. I think we can be excited about them. They have a long, long way to go, we have to make them aware that they are still a million miles away from going out there and playing for the first team on a Saturday and that they have so much to learn, but at the same time, if they work hard, they have a fantastic opportunity at this football club.”

Looking at Scott’s role with the U17s, how have they done so far this season?

“The U17 league has changed to a competitive format. Before, the U17 matches would just consist of developmental games but from last season they have attached a league table to the age group. We play a total of 28 league matches. It has a positive side and a negative side. We have noticed this season that one or two teams are looking at the league table and have changed their style accordingly, and they are getting the ball forward quickly instead of passing it out from the back. But at the same time, it is important that players understand how to win football matches, how to protect leads etc. It is all part of their education.

“The way we use our 17s in the academy system, we don’t have as many players as other clubs have. Predominantly, what we come up against is U17 teams who mostly consist of players in their final year.
“We have only got five players who are in their final year at U17 level on our books. For example we will look to get U15 players up to play at U17 level.

We want to test our players at older age groups to challenge them and see how they react and perform. This is done at all our age groups within the Academy.  This is where I believe we differ from other Academies, but we firmly believe the better players need to always be challenged.”

“In terms of results and league placings, we do suffer because of our approach and we will not always be at the top but the main thing at this level is developing players and giving them the best opportunity to go and get a professional contract.

“People might ask why we only have five U17 players but we want to be fair to the kids, especially the ones who have been with us a long time. First and foremost we want to produce players for Aberdeen. If we cannot do that with a player, we then want him to play at as high a level as he can.

“Deciding early on some of the older players within the youth academy then allows them to go and progress somewhere else.  We try and make a decision on a player as early as possible but sometimes, we do need to leave it to the end of the season because we feel a player still has potential. We have to give that player every chance of making it.

“The hardest part of my job is telling a player that he is being released. I have already had four or five meetings with players and families this season and it is hard. You are ultimately taking the dream away from a young lad. Within these meetings, we always tell them that football is about opinions and in our opinion, at that time they have to move on, but that does not mean their careers are finished and there is always a chance they will prove us wrong.”

The job of deciding which players should make the step up next season has been made slightly easier by the fact that a number of the U17s have already had a chance to play in the U20 Development League this season.

“Although the amount of injuries we have had has been frustrating at U20 level, the one positive has been that a number of the academy players have been given a chance in the Development League. It is great for them.

“We have a young midfielder called Seb Ross who is only 15 but has been involved with the U20 squad a few times this season and he has come on in a number of the matches. In one of these games, he came on and played alongside Barry Robson for 35 minutes in the middle of the pitch. We can coach all we want but in terms of learning little things about the game, it was massive for him.

“I have probably had seven or eight players involved with the U20 squad. The opportunity has maybe come slightly early for a few of them but at the same time, it makes them aware of the different level of intensity that they need to play at, they get a better understanding of the step up and it also gives Paul Sheerin the opportunity to get to know the guys as well.

“We also now have advanced sessions for U15/U17 players who are performing to a very high standard.  These sessions are monthly and the criteria for selection comes from exceptional performance or International inclusion at their own age group.  The players are invited in for a session with Paul Sheerin.

“Paul has been great to work with since he came in. He is firm with the lads but he is also very fair. His knowledge and experience is excellent. He is able to teach me a lot as well as the players.  

“As we always say, it is not about winning league titles at youth level but our job is about winning football matches and we try and instil that into the players. If they get to the first team level that is the be all and end all – winning games on a Saturday afternoon.

“Winning the SPFL Development league title last season was a great achievement. The level of consistency was excellent. Paul has said himself that last year we were fortunate with the personnel at the time, as we had a number of boys in their final year. The likes of Kieran Gibbons, he was outstanding throughout the season. This year has been slightly different obviously. Although we have lost more games, it has also maybe been a better year for developing players.  

“The more Youth Academy players who get involved the better but they have to reach a standard at U17 level before they get invited in. The difference between the first team and U20s is massive, the difference between the development league and the U17 league is massive and the difference between the U17 league and the U15s in massive. Every step they take, there is a big leap.”

Bridging the gap between the SPFL Premiership and the Development League is now being seen as a major issue for Scottish Football. Under new proposals put forward by the Scottish FA, and backed by national manager Gordon Strachan, a US style draft could be put in place. It’s aim is to get younger players more competitive game time. The plan foresees Scottish Premiership clubs providing around five under-20s players for a lower league draft pot.

In a system similar to American Football's National Football League college draft, club picks could depend on league position, with the team at the bottom of the Championship possibly having first pick of the player pool.

“I don’t really know how the draft system would fully work and we don’t know all the details so we need to sit down and look more closely at the proposal before we can comment further.

“It is important that players do get out there. We have Danny Rogers on loan at the moment doing very well in the Championship with Falkirk. Danny has been out on loan a couple of times, and each time has been out at a higher level. I think that can only do him the world of good.

“Michael Rose had a spell at Forfar and Scott McKenna has been at Alloa, a step up from playing with Ayr United last season. Lawrence Shankland, who played a big part in winning the U20 title last season, had a spell at Dunfermline and is now on loan at St Mirren for the full season. And now Jamie Henry is at Arbroath and Lukas Culjak is at Brechin. I think playing competitive games in front of crowds, playing with and against fellow professionals, it is an important step.”