Trials for the Scottish FA Performance School at Hazlehead Academy take place over the next two weeks.
Successful applicants will be able to follow in the footsteps of Aberdeen’s Dean Campbell and Ethan Ross, who attended the school before going on to represent Aberdeen.
The first trial will be for recreational and boys club players, while the second will incorporate those already at professional clubs. Each trial will consist of a two-hour session, where players will be split into small groups to complete a number of stations before breaking into small-sided games.
Players who are successful in being picked from both trials will advance to a national trial in Glasgow next month, where aspects of sports science and classroom activity will be incorporated.
Stuart Glennie, the regional elite performance coach at Hazlehead and a former professional footballer at Forfar, expects a quality field from this year’s applicants.
He said: “We could get 40-60 players and it can be a mix of ability. But we’re expecting some good ones this year as we’re aware of some boys club players, who are not with Aberdeen, that are doing well.
“It’s about comparing them to the best in Scotland. We’ve been scouting some for over a year so have a good idea of what we’re getting.”
Those successful from the national trial will be invited for a meeting at Hazlehead. They will receive a presentation from headteacher Jim Purdie on the educational aspects of joining the school and from Glennie on the benefits of the football programme.
There are seven regional schools across the country, aimed at producing talent for the next generation of Scotland squads. Performance School pupils balance their educational requirements with daily training sessions with coaches, with regular reports and meetings to monitor their progress.
Aberdeen’s head of youth development Neil Simpson visits Hazlehead each Tuesday to assist Glennie and fellow coach Derek Young, with his own son Kyle a Performance School pupil.
Campbell was the first Performance School graduate to make his senior debut and was named in the latest Scotland under-19 squad, along with Ross and former Dons goalkeeper Archie Mair. A total of 20 graduates from Hazlehead have attained contracts with professional clubs.
For more information or to download an application form for the trial days, visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/applications/
