Club Visit Partick Thistle FC

National Youth Project club visit to Partick Thistle FC

'The Player'- Kyle Lochhead Partick Thistle FC

Kyle Lochhead has signed his first professional contract at Partick Thistle and talks here about how the SVQ programme fits into his weekly training schedule. Partick Thistle are one of nineteen clubs actively involved in the Scottish FA’s National Youth Project.
 

At present over 250 young players in Scotland are employed in full time professional football through this project.

'The Assessor'- Marco McIntyre Scottish FA

Each player enrolled in the National Youth Project gets the opportunity to develop their football talents through full time employment. They also work towards an SVQ level 3 in Achieving Excellence in Sporting Performance. Each club receives regular visits from a qualified Scottish FA Assessor. Over two years the players work their way through eight separate units. These units are based on the football and lifestyle skills needed by today’s professional football player: 

• Plan, apply and evaluate your technical skills
• Plan, apply and evaluate your tactical skills
• Plan, apply and evaluate your physical capability
• Plan, apply and evaluate attitudes and mental skills needed
• Plan and manage your lifestyle
• Manage your Sporting career
• Communicate and work effectively with other people
• Maintain the health and safety of others

'The Mentor'- Gerry Britton Partick Thistle FC

Gerry Britton is a full-time coach at Partick Thistle and is keen to promote the final part of the programme- where each player enrolls in a further education course at college or school. Gerry worked towards two different degrees at University while playing professional football for clubs like Celtic and Thistle. 

This part of the project enables young players to achieve valuable skills and qualifications to assist them in a second career option for when they stop playing football on a full time professional basis. There are a number of courses available to the players from fitness instruction to higher politics.

Several of today’s SPL stars have worked their way through the project including Zander Diamond (Aberdeen), Stephen McManus, Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Steven Naismith, Kris Boyd (Rangers), David Goodwillie (Dundee Utd.)