Emiley kicks off her first term at Soccer Academy

Aug 13 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

JULIE FLEETING watch out - Coatbridge youngster Emiley Allison wants your place in the Scotland national team.

It’s going back to school with a difference for the 11-year-old from Kirkwood.

For she is one of 20 soccer-mad kids heading to a School of Football after the summer holidays.

The excited former Old Monklands Primary pupil is off to Motherwell’s Braidhurst High.

And as well as studying subjects such as Maths, English and Geography, Emiley will get to practise her football skills - every single day.

Over 200 Lanarkshire children attended trials and were put through their paces by SFA coaches, with 17 boys and three girls, including Emiley, impressing and winning through.

The idea is the brainchild of the SFA, with local councils across the country invited to apply to be home to one of six funded Schools of Football.

Braidhurst High School Sports Comprehensive was nominated as the North Lanarkshire area’s contender.

Emiley’s mum Sharon admitted her daughter was “jumping for joy” when she received the letter inviting her to continue her education at the Motherwell school.

“People kept saying to me that she was good at football but I didn’t really know,” she said. “I am very proud of her.

“When she got the letter saying that she had met the criteria and had been accepted into the school, she was jumping for joy. She is football-mad and plays the game all the time - she says she wants to play for Scotland.

“I think whatever she chooses as her career will definitely be sports-orientated.”

The kids will follow the regular Monday to Friday curriculum at Braidhurst.

But for an hour each day, they will put on new Scotland kit and sharpen their skills on the pitch.

“The good thing is that Emiley is going to get an education,” added Sharon. “The core skills will be taught and that is a priority of this project.

“The kids will also have access to a doctor and a physio and go swimming regularly as well.”

Emiley, who plays as a winger for Kirkshaws United and supports Celtic and Manchester United, said: “I am really looking forward to it.”

Councillor Jim Logue gave his backing to the scheme, saying: “It is great that North Lanarkshire is now home to its very own school of football.”

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: “I am delighted that Braidhurst High has joined the growing squad of Schools of Football.

“This scheme will see some of our most talented boys and girls receive the help and guidance they will need to make it in the game.”