Pro-Youth on the Up

The Bully Wee’s Pro-Youth department has recently been restructured to assist it in becoming better integrated with the senior squad at Broadwood.

Director John Ruddy highlighted the changes to the official website: “Our intention is to ensure better integration between the youth sides and the senior squad and ultimately enable a smoother transition from the Pro-Youth structure to the first team squad.

“This year Connor Stevenson and Jordan Morton have already made the leap from youth football to being involved in the senior squad. For clubs like Clyde the Pro-Youth structure represents building and developing talent for the future and several of the youngsters have been earmarked for modern football apprenticeships starting from next season.”

Coach Ian Currie has returned to Broadwood and he will co-ordinate the under-17 and under-19 sides, reporting directly to Bully Wee boss John Brown. Alan Upton will continue to have an overall responsibility for administration but will also co-ordinate the teams at ages under-13, 14, 15 and 16.

John continued, “Both are local guys which is important as they know so many people. Ian possesses great experience and has extensive contacts. He was a scout at Celtic, St. Mirren and Rangers.

“Alan continues to be excellent for us as his organisational skills are essential, especially as he works so hard behind the scenes. The closer working set-up will enable the senior coaching staff of John, Dougie and Gary, who is concentrating his time with the first team, to be fully aware of the emerging talent. They will have the opportunity to assess a player’s stage of development.

“We’re delighted to see the progress being made in our youth football as it is vital to the long term future of the Bully Wee. I’m very excited about the potential we have at the club.”