Looking To The Future

Celtic’s Head of Youth, Chris McCart, explains what’s ahead for the club’s Academy as it builds on the success it’s already enjoyed

- Mark Henderson

YOUTH football in Scotland will have a completely different complexion in the new season – and that means big changes in the Celtic Youth Academy.

For the first time nine years, reserve team football will return to the country as part of Project Brave – the SFA’s revamp of the domestic professional youth structure and funding, which aims to help more young players play first-team football. This radical restructuring will also see the introduction of a professional U18 league and summer football for the U11 to U16 age-groups.

It’s been a busy close-season for the Academy staff and coaches as they put plans into practice to adjust to this significant overhaul.

And, here, the View sat down with Celtic Head of Youth, Chris McCart, to hear his thoughts on the new developments and the challenges for young players aiming to make the grade in Paradise.

What changes will there be to the Celtic Youth Academy in the new season?

A lot of our fans will have heard of Project Brave. There’s a new structure within Scottish football and we’re now looking at reserve team football which is replacing our U20 league and we’re looking at an U 18 professional league which is replacing our U17s. Our U11s to U16s will play summer football now so it’s like a continuous season – as one age-group finishes, the other one starts. It’s 24/7 for our Academy teams and for young players.

Has it been tough to make all these adjustments in such a short window over the summer?