As part of our enhanced coverage of the Aberdeen and District Juvenile Football Association, The Press and Journal is featuring some of our local teams.
This week we chat to Dee United under-18s coach Ben Dugan. The 17-year-old played for the club last season, before making the decision to move into coaching.
Name: Ben Dugan
Position: Coach
Team: Dee United under-18s
League: Alba Gaskets ADJFA 18s League A
Home pitch: Sheddocksley
Kit colours: Blue and white/black and white
How have you started this season?
We lost on the opening day, which was a shame, but we got a really good point against Cults in our second game.
Last season was about getting the players playing, but this year it’s getting results week in and week out, so hopefully we can really kick on.
How did last season go?
We finished seventh. I was still playing at the time, and we thought it was an OK season for our first year back.
What are your expectations for this season?
We’re not really sure what to expect this season because the A and B leagues have come together. Every team seems to have got new players so it’s a bit of an unknown.
Photos from the match today ✅ pic.twitter.com/9fZuVfowaL
— Dee United (@DeeUnited_FC) September 24, 2022
Our goal is to finish in the top-half, but maybe our expectations will change as the season goes on and we start to get more results.
Where do you train?
We train at the Inverdee pitches in Aberdeen. It’s a great place to train and the boys get the sessions for free – our entire club is free.
It’s one of the main benefits of playing for Dee United, especially right now during the cost of living crisis.
Tell us a bit about the players in your squad…
We’ve got a good group of lads, there’s about 20 boys in the squad. We’ve had a few leave, but it’s quite a tight group as a lot of us went to school together.
Why did you decide to stop playing and become a coach?
I played in midfield but I always wanted to coach. I prefer the coaching side, so one of the other coaches here helped me get my badges.
It’s been really fun so far. It’s a different experience than playing but I really enjoy it and love being more involved.
Do you think the players will carry on playing after juvenile football?
We’ve got players who are definitely good enough to go play amateur or junior football, especially our goalkeeper – he’s fantastic.
For me, I hope there will be another Dee team that I can help out with.
How can we improve juvenile football to produce better young players?
I think what the Press and Journal is doing this season – giving teams that coverage and support – is really great. It helps get the league more acknowledgement and it’s something that should continue.
I said earlier that Dee United is completely free which is a great benefit, and if other clubs did that, too, you’d definitely get more players coming along and signing up.
This weekend’s reports will appear on the Press and Journal website at 5pm on Sunday.
