Youth Development

As a long-standing member of the Scottish Football League, we at Clyde Football Club believe strongly that all clubs in membership of the SFL have a responsibility to the game of football and to the community they serve. In operating a Youth Football Department, we take our responsibility to provide a platform for young players to develop their talents very seriously.

Running a Youth Academy is an expensive and time consuming business and to fund this effectively requires dedication and hard work principally from those involved in running the Academy, but of course, that of the players and parents. Working together, we hope to continue to achieve a Youth Academy which the club and the community are proud of.

Our Youth Department is headed up by Director of Football, Neil Watt. Neil is on the main Board of Clyde Football Club and has a lifetime of experience and achievements in Scottish Football. Neil has played football at a high level and has coached and managed teams in the Scottish Junior League and the SFL’s First, Second and Third Divisions. Neil is very ably assisted by our Head of Youth Development and Operations Manager, Alan Upton. Alan similarly has had great experience in football coaching, specifically in the youth area. In turn, Alan leads a fully qualified team of coaches providing football in the categories of 13s/14s/15s/16s and 17s.

During 2007-08, the club received a full award from the Scottish Football Association as recognition of its efforts and meets all the criteria for UEFA Club Licensing.

The aim of the Youth Department, which has an excellent reputation within Scottish Football, is to develop and nurture young talent for the good of the club and for the good of the game as a whole.

Each squad is coached at least twice a week by SFA qualified coaches and as the players progress through the year groups, so does their individual and team coaching and development. The Youth Department also takes seriously the importance of other aspects of their involvement, such as discipline, dedication, team work, diet and nutrition.

Most matches are played on Sundays and we would encourage as many Clyde fans and others to come and lend support to our young players, where entry is free.

We have a separate section on our website for our 19s squad where the players move into the control of the first team manager and integrate closely with first team activities. In the past, players such as Craig Bryson, Robert Harris, Ruari MacLennan and Connor Stevenson have already made the progression up to the Bully Wee Senior Squad in this manner.

Visit the Youth news page for all the latest updates.