It has been quite a return to Pittodrie for Paul Sheerin. The Dons U20 coach who came back to the club in the summer has done a brilliant job and saw his efforts recognised yesterday when his young side won the SPFL Development League trophy. It should not be underestimated just how tough it is for Aberdeen to win the Development League.
Paul sat down on Friday morning to speak to RedTV and to reflect on the campaign.
“It has not been a bad first season on my return to the club!
“It has been a very good season, culminating with the title at the end of it and it is very well deserved for the boy’s hard work throughout the year. “After we beat Hearts home and away we thought we would still need to beat Dunfermline, with the game moved to Pittodrie, but after Celtic dropped points on Thursday against Falkirk the job was done and there is less now pressure on us going into the last two games.”
Close to 40 players have played for the 20s at some point during the season. It is therefore incredible how consistent his side have been. Even one week the team sheet included a certain Paul Sheerin as a trailist! It is also worth remembering that the likes of Danny Rogers, Craig Murray, Scott McKenna, Jamie Mason, Craig Storie and Declan McManus have all be out on loan during stages of the season. Everyone has played their part during the campaign, especially some of the youngest players such as keeper Robbie Mutch, Frank Ross, Jamie Henry, Sam Robertson, Daniel Harvie and Kalvin Orsi.
“It is good to get the younger ones involved. With the over age rule, and you are allowed to play five, it is sometimes difficult to give game time to the younger bracket of players, those in their first year who came in during the summer at the same time as myself. Some of the younger boys have not played as much as they would have liked but they have all done a job when required. Hopefully they will have learnt a lot from their first full year as professionals and next year they will progress”
Of those 40 players a special mention must go to skipper Kieran Gibbons, Michael Rose, Scott Wright and Marcus Campanile as well as Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Smith. These six players were involved in most of the games. A fairly significant reason for the title win was down to the Dons SAS partnership of Shankland and Smith who between them scored an incredible 42 goals in the league.
“Lawrence is probably unfortunate that Adam is scoring so many goals at first team level as otherwise he might have played more. He has probably seen his opportunities restricted for the first team due to Adam’s consistency but at any level to score 30 goals is incredible and Lawrence deserves all the credit he gets for that. He has been excellent all season. “Lawrence has built a good partnership with Cammy Smith. The two of them have played most of the games during the campaign despite both also being in the first team squad. The fact both are still qualified to play for the U20s has helped our squad and they have both been outstanding.
“Also to keep playing at this level even though they are both in the first team dressing room. It would have been easy for them to get frustrated at not getting more of chance with the first team but they have not been like that at all and their attitude towards to the young boys round about them has been superb. They have always encouraged them and tried to give them confidence.
“I was fortunate enough to come to the club at a good time with Lawrence and Cammy both still U20. Also we have boys like Nicky Low, Craig Murray, Jamie Masson, Joe Shaughnessy, Clark Robertson who are just slightly too old but have been a credit to themselves when they have come in and played at that level.” As well as the players Paul was also keen to point out that others deserve credit for winning the title, especially all the coaches in the AFC Youth Academy.
“It is about developing players at this level. Therefore credit must go to all the people who have worked with these players before me. All the coaches in the Junior and Youth Academies. A lot of credit goes to a lot of people under me. After all the hard work they put in, I get left with the easy bit as the bulk of the work is done. I just sit back and take the credit!”
With the league title now won Paul and the management team can now start deciding how the squad will look next season.
“With the position we have been in, trying to win the league, it has been difficult to make decisions on certain players but now that we know where we are we will look at making those decisions over the next week. Some of those decisions will be easy. Some of those decisions will be very tough. Scott Anderson has already brought in Connor McLennan and Bruce Anderson who will step up to full time football next season and they have earned that after doing very well at U17 level.
“Before then though the boys can look forward to Tuesday night. It would be nice if we got a big crowd to see the young players picking up a trophy. That would add to the enjoyment for them. Hopefully the players can showcase the abilities they have and show what they have done all season.”
“Before then though the boys can look forward to Tuesday night. It would be nice if we got a big crowd to see the young players picking up a trophy. That would add to the enjoyment for them. Hopefully the players can showcase the abilities they have and show what they have done all season.”
