Henry Mearns Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 No “young player of the year’ awards now we’re at end of season? Keen to highlight the best young talent in WoSFL by division, post your top 3 teenagers in WoSFL here. Guys playing against grown men in competitive leagues, not over-insulated pro-youth types. The younger the better, we can check back in 5 years and see who’s progressed. I’ll start with two very young stand-outs in Division 4, based on what I’ve seen (and also picked up from gabbing with home spectators). Goals data from WoSFL official website (below), no info on assists. Nathan McLelland (Thorn), top goal scorer in league - ridiculous return of 29 goals means >1 goal a game! Natural born predator, scores all types and continually hits the target even from half chances. Only 17 years old! Strong and very sharp. Watched him bully much older and bigger CBs. Think a mini Wayne Rooney. Conor Boyle (Giffnock) - also just 17. 12 goals., so top-scoring midfielder in league? Touch, balance, vision - and pace driving through midfield. Fouled a lot in games I saw but got up and on with it. 10% commission awaited from any scouts tuning in 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wos-observer Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 17 minutes ago, Henry Mearns said: No “young player of the year’ awards now we’re at end of season? Keen to highlight the best young talent in WoSFL by division, post your top 3 teenagers in WoSFL here. Guys playing against grown men in competitive leagues, not over-insulated pro-youth types. The younger the better, we can check back in 5 years and see who’s progressed. I’ll start with two very young stand-outs in Division 4, based on what I’ve seen (and also picked up from gabbing with home spectators). Goals data from WoSFL official website (below), no info on assists. Nathan McLelland (Thorn), top goal scorer in league - ridiculous return of 29 goals means >1 goal a game! Natural born predator, scores all types and continually hits the target even from half chances. Only 17 years old! Strong and very sharp. Watched him bully much older and bigger CBs. Think a mini Wayne Rooney. Conor Boyle (Giffnock) - also just 17. 12 goals., so top-scoring midfielder in league? Touch, balance, vision - and pace driving through midfield. Fouled a lot in games I saw but got up and on with it. 10% commission awaited from any scouts tuning in The boy Gillies at Talbot has looked a classy player in the few games I’ve seen him. Sure he was at St Peter’s before so big jump up in level. Although I think he may possibly be 20 now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archieb Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 Poacher alert! Yez willn't get ony info ootae me!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Mearns Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 21 hours ago, Wos-observer said: The boy Gillies at Talbot has looked a classy player in the few games I’ve seen him. Sure he was at St Peter’s before so big jump up in level. Although I think he may possibly be 20 now. Gillies is a very good player no doubt, coupla pals watch St Peters where he was very highly regarded. But he’s no been a teenager for while Thomson up front seems to be Talbot’s youngest, but nearly 20? Only other regularly played teenager I’m aware of in Premier is Emordi at Beith and he’ll be 20 soon too. Similar at St Cadocs, Clydebank, Largs, Pollok, Darvel - can’t see any young guys never mind teenagers played, other maybe than the odd boy stuck in on the bench from their 20s getting 10-15 minutes in a game that’s already won. I get that pressure is on in Premier so playing very young guys becomes tough for managers, same at top end of First, Drumchapel, Burgh, Shotts and Ashfield will barely have any teenager signed let alone play them this season I’m guessing . Even young players loaned in from SPFL teams, usually meaning they are no longer able to play U18 and likely surplus to requirements as never getting a look in with the first team squad, don’t seem to get game time. The Candy took in a 17 year old Pearse Carroll who’s fallen out of the system at Falkirk in April, but I’m on a self-imposed ban till next season so will have to wait to see if he can play. Hoping that Clubs in Divisions 2 or 3 might at least be prepared to give youngsters a chance? Even if like archieb you don’t want to give out names in case boys get poached, at least let us know boys are getting played somewhere! Hearing McLelland on the list of a few clubs, and Thorn apparently knocked back a decent cash offer this season to ensure they kept his goals to get promotion - their 20s won their conference in the development league so hopefully they bring more young guys in next season. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wos-observer Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 49 minutes ago, Henry Mearns said: Gillies is a very good player no doubt, coupla pals watch St Peters where he was very highly regarded. But he’s no been a teenager for while Thomson up front seems to be Talbot’s youngest, but nearly 20? Only other regularly played teenager I’m aware of in Premier is Emordi at Beith and he’ll be 20 soon too. Similar at St Cadocs, Clydebank, Largs, Pollok, Darvel - can’t see any young guys never mind teenagers played, other maybe than the odd boy stuck in on the bench from their 20s getting 10-15 minutes in a game that’s already won. I get that pressure is on in Premier so playing very young guys becomes tough for managers, same at top end of First, Drumchapel, Burgh, Shotts and Ashfield will barely have any teenager signed let alone play them this season I’m guessing . Even young players loaned in from SPFL teams, usually meaning they are no longer able to play U18 and likely surplus to requirements as never getting a look in with the first team squad, don’t seem to get game time. The Candy took in a 17 year old Pearse Carroll who’s fallen out of the system at Falkirk in April, but I’m on a self-imposed ban till next season so will have to wait to see if he can play. Hoping that Clubs in Divisions 2 or 3 might at least be prepared to give youngsters a chance? Even if like archieb you don’t want to give out names in case boys get poached, at least let us know boys are getting played somewhere! Hearing McLelland on the list of a few clubs, and Thorn apparently knocked back a decent cash offer this season to ensure they kept his goals to get promotion - their 20s won their conference in the development league so hopefully they bring more young guys in next season. Looking at the Talbot website, Gillies is born in 2003 so turning 21 same age as Smith and Abed although not teenagers hardly players that are over the hill. I did say I wasn't sure what age Gillies was and that he may not be a teenager. Talbot to be fair to them have a very young squad. Galvin although returning to Kilmarnock was 18 at start of the season, Kennedy 18, Thomson 19. Having watched all teams this season Talbot appeared to be the youngest (or youngest looking) team in the league. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Mearns Posted May 14 Author Share Posted May 14 On 13/05/2024 at 14:04, Wos-observer said: Looking at the Talbot website, Gillies is born in 2003 so turning 21 same age as Smith and Abed although not teenagers hardly players that are over the hill. I did say I wasn't sure what age Gillies was and that he may not be a teenager. Talbot to be fair to them have a very young squad. Galvin although returning to Kilmarnock was 18 at start of the season, Kennedy 18, Thomson 19. Having watched all teams this season Talbot appeared to be the youngest (or youngest looking) team in the league. Fair play to Talbot then if those two getting decent game time. Should pay dividends for them in future 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maicoman Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 On 13/05/2024 at 14:04, Wos-observer said: Looking at the Talbot website, Gillies is born in 2003 so turning 21 same age as Smith and Abed although not teenagers hardly players that are over the hill. I did say I wasn't sure what age Gillies was and that he may not be a teenager. Talbot to be fair to them have a very young squad. Galvin although returning to Kilmarnock was 18 at start of the season, Kennedy 18, Thomson 19. Having watched all teams this season Talbot appeared to be the youngest (or youngest looking) team in the league. Think Beith will have the youngest starting 11 by a long way 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Mearns Posted May 18 Author Share Posted May 18 Met an old pal in East Kilbride to watch EK Thistle v Thorn, nice wee pint in the Village round the corner before the game. Decent wee ground, but grass maybe needed a mow! Young McLelland scored another brace before being subbed. Bit of a walkover for Thorn at 7-0. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Scan Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 1 hour ago, Henry Mearns said: Met an old pal in East Kilbride to watch EK Thistle v Thorn, nice wee pint in the Village round the corner before the game. Decent wee ground, but grass maybe needed a mow! Young McLelland scored another brace before being subbed. Bit of a walkover for Thorn at 7-0. The boy has been carrying an injury the last couple of games. Ends up the league top goalscorer. Another two 17 year old starting with him today one of them has played most of the season Ross Denny in centre mid 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Mearns Posted May 20 Author Share Posted May 20 On 18/05/2024 at 19:57, Uncle Scan said: The boy has been carrying an injury the last couple of games. Ends up the league top goalscorer. Another two 17 year old starting with him today one of them has played most of the season Ross Denny in centre mid Cheers Uncle Scan, good to hear. Can you confirm the other 17 year old - is it Jay Mckight, related to manager Steven McKnight? On attached Thorn final league goals chart looks like they’ve both contributed. But clearly shows just how important McLelland’s goals are for Thorn 32 league goals at any age is impressive, but at 17 must put McLelland on radar of big teams, surely the scouts will be battering Thorn’s door down. Assume teams at this level just sign boys season to season, so transfer fees not really a thing, but guessing Thorn will look to get him boy signed up long-term if not already even just to ensure they get some cash when he inevitably does go. Less headline grabbing but still impressive is midfielder Boyle at Giffnock. High-scoring midfielders rare as hen’s teeth at most levels, so 14 goals at just 17 in first senior season has to set the Scottish Moneyball alarms off big style. Chart shows only Giffnock’s big striker Clark scored more. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Scan Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 3 hours ago, Henry Mearns said: Cheers Uncle Scan, good to hear. Can you confirm the other 17 year old - is it Jay Mckight, related to manager Steven McKnight? On attached Thorn final league goals chart looks like they’ve both contributed. But clearly shows just how important McLelland’s goals are for Thorn 32 league goals at any age is impressive, but at 17 must put McLelland on radar of big teams, surely the scouts will be battering Thorn’s door down. Assume teams at this level just sign boys season to season, so transfer fees not really a thing, but guessing Thorn will look to get him boy signed up long-term if not already even just to ensure they get some cash when he inevitably does go. Less headline grabbing but still impressive is midfielder Boyle at Giffnock. High-scoring midfielders rare as hen’s teeth at most levels, so 14 goals at just 17 in first senior season has to set the Scottish Moneyball alarms off big style. Chart shows only Giffnock’s big striker Clark scored more. No Jay is carrying an injury at the moment and has played a few times for the first team. I think there was a total of 16 players played for the first team from the U20 team. So they are sticking by their policy of promoting their youth 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Pennel Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 (edited) On 20/05/2024 at 14:01, Henry Mearns said: Oh, please, please tell us that young Mr. Bauld & young Mr. Hair will be in the same starting line up next season ? Who'll play up top ? Also, can we have Daryl Airdrie signing for Clydebank, please ? Edited May 21 by Black Pennel Motorcycle empty-headiness. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Mearns Posted June 30 Author Share Posted June 30 OK, who will be the young players to watch out for in the WoSFL this coming season - new players, maybe promoted for U20s Dev league or straight in from youth football (or even falling out of senior clubs academies), or maybe guys who played last year but ready to really push on? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glensmad Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 1 hour ago, Henry Mearns said: OK, who will be the young players to watch out for in the WoSFL this coming season - new players, maybe promoted for U20s Dev league or straight in from youth football (or even falling out of senior clubs academies), or maybe guys who played last year but ready to really push on? Hi Gus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FitbaGuy Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 There’s a young lad Campbell McLean at the buffs who looks like a decent prospect. Looks very lightweight but I’ve seen him put himself about. Given what’s going on at the buffs he might get himself a run out this season. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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