Soccer

Solitude's Youth Development League a resounding success

The Wee Glens at Solitude picking up their medals at the Youth Development programme, organised by Cliftonville's Academy head Marc Smyth
The Wee Glens at Solitude picking up their medals at the Youth Development programme, organised by Cliftonville's Academy head Marc Smyth The Wee Glens at Solitude picking up their medals at the Youth Development programme, organised by Cliftonville's Academy head Marc Smyth

THE FonaCab-sponsored Youth Development League programme has evolved into one of the most successful of its kind with Cliftonville’s Head of Academy Marc Smyth insisting that “fun” is the key ingredient, writes Brendan Crossan.

Speaking at the programme’s medal awards day at Solitude, the former Cliftonville defender says over 400 kids - boys and girls - are playing four-a-side games every Saturday morning for the last three years as it goes from strength to strength.

“From a very small programme it has grown through good relationships I have with clubs and it’s grown because of the concept behind it,” said Smyth.

“There has been a lot of research from four-a-side football, right through to seven-a-side, nine-a-side and 11-a-side and it was proved in four-versus-four football there were more forward passes, more touches of the ball and with no goalkeepers, kids were scoring more goals. It basically promoted more fun.”

Teams from all parts of Belfast descend on the north Belfast venue for the small-sided games every Saturday morning.

Smyth, who enjoyed a successful professional career in Scottish football before moving to Cliftonville, added: “My son played in a similar grassroots programme when he was five – he’s now 16 – when I lived in Scotland. The idea of it is getting kids to love the game, scoring lots of goals, lots of forward passes.

“I love my job, I love youth football and the development of it.”

Smyth enjoyed a brief coaching stint with Cliftonville's first team after Barry Gray departed towards the end of last season, and while the double league-winning defender would like to have a crack at coaching in the Irish Premiership, his first love remains developing youth players.

In January he plans to acquire an Elite Youth 'A' Licence to further his own coaching development. At their awards day last weekend, Smyth said: "I'd just like to say a massive thank you to the coaches, the clubs and FonaCab for their continued support.

"We are the biggest grassroots programme of its kind with over 400 kids and I'm proud to be associated with it."

The popular grassroots programme resumes in the New Year.