YFS Magazine Issue 1 | Page 8

PLAYER PROFILE Words by Michael O’Brien What are your team aims for this season? My goals are to retain the league title and to reach the final of the Scottish Cup, we are currently waiting for our last 16 tie in January to be played. What are your individual aims for this season? To retain my regular starting place at Calderbraes and play as many games possible for the Regional Squad, remain captain of my school team and hopefully have another crack at pro youth football whether it be in goals or an outfield player. How has being involved with the Central Regional squad improved you as a player? What lessons have you learned? Being selected two years running has boosted my confidence as an outfield player with extra coaching it helps me with my technical ability and reading of the game. The Regional Squad has also helped my social skills with our trip to Orkney because I had to make new friends and look after myself. We catch up with Calderbraes BC 2000’s Jamie Dickson who is enjoying his youth career after making the switch from goalkeeper to defender. How easy was it to make the move from in goal to outfield? It was hard because I had to adapt and I had to play all these different positions each week to see what one I would be best suited. Had you always played as a goalkeeper or did you have previous experience outfield? What made you decide to become a keeper? From a young age I had always wanted to be a goalkeeper, I remember playing out the back with my pals then throwing the ball about the living room catching it then shouting ‘KEEPERS!!’. I had no real experience as an outfield player. I knew I had a flair for goalkeeping so I thought yeah why not. 8 | YFS XY