Football club runs rule over Fife youngsters
Dundee United have increased their chances of discovering top players through a partnership with Fife’s AMsoccerschools.
At Tannadice, from left — Scott Reekie, Austin MacPhee (AMsoccerschools), James Collins, Gary Reilly (AMsoccerschools), Jonathan Cartwright and Ian Cathro (Dundee Utd).
- By Craig McManamon
- Published in the Courier : 15.04.10
- Published online : 16.04.10 @ 08.41am
AMsoccerschools coach more than 500 children per week from the age of three to 13 and have grown rapidly over the last four years.
The partnership allows United the first chance to sign AMsoccerschools' most promising youngsters and has also led to school coaches helping under-eights and under-nines at their restructured academy.
The SPL club announced the partnership before last night's game against Rangers with three signings from AMsoccerschools — Jonathan Cartwright (Cupar), Scott Reekie (Pittenweem) and James Collins (Methil).
Dundee United fought off interest from other SPL clubs over a similar partnership with AMsoccerschools, such is its growing reputation.
Founder Austin MacPhee said, "We are delighted to be in partnership with Dundee United.
"The club has an excellent curriculum for further developing our young players and we are confident Tannadice is the best place for them to progress after the restructuring of their youth system."
He added, "Like ourselves, the United youth system is not result-based but concentrates on the technical development of the individual player as they strive for a career in professional football.
"In AMsoccerschools we have found not only an organisation who put fun into football, but also provide a real development path for their young players."
