Dunbar United
This brought a lot of pressure which the players coped with
admirably. Next season is a bit of a free shot and we can enjoy the
ride a little bit more. We are good enough to hold our own in the
league above, but we don’t want to just hold our own and survive
– we want to go and compete at the top end of the division.
FF: How important is youth football to the club?
GJ: Youth football is massively important. We have a Colt’s
setup here at Dunbar United and nurturing young talent, giving
them aspirations to play for the 1st team in the future is not
just important, it’s a necessity to ensure the club’s future whilst
keeping a local identity.
We brew an astonishing range of beers, from
clean crisp pilsners to rich sticky oat stout; and
not forgetting Scotland’s Best-Loved Best. Every
single one of them is brewed here at Belhaven
Brewery, the home of Scottish brewing.
FF: How do you ensure that young players enjoy a smooth
transition into the senior game?
GJ: It’s not easy as at the minute; our oldest colts team is the
under 19s and it’s a big ask for players of that age to be physically
ready for Junior football. The problem we have is that generally
the best players have been snapped up by senior youth teams such
as Hearts, Hibs and Berwick Rangers long before they reach the
19’s so there isn’t always a lot to choose from that are good enough
to come straight into the side.
We Dunbar
try and manage
United this by inviting players to come and train
with us throughout the season to give us a chance to assess mental,
technical and physical attributes of the player, and also to give
the player the chance to assess the club and whether they would
be comfortable in the dressing room and at this level. I have also
nurtured links with the local senior teams to take youth players on
loan, which has proven successful and I hope we can continue to
use this to our advantage.
TRADITIONAL BELHAVEN BELHAVEN
ALES
BEST
STOUTS
SPECIALITY
CRAFT BEERS
Proud sponsors of Dunbar United FC
+44(0)1368 862734
www.belhaven.co.uk | [email protected]
BELHAVEN BREWERY, BREWERY LANE, DUNBAR EH42 1PE
FF: Would you consider yours to be a community club?
GJ: Officially we are not a community club – although we are
in discussions with the Colts at the minute about applying for
community club status through the SFA. However I class us as
an unofficial community club. Engaging with all the youth teams
and the wider community as a whole is very important to me and
this season I have noticed a real difference in the support we have
received from the community.
I think we have given them something to believe in again this
year and it’s great to see. We support local events and initiatives as
well as other clubs within the area and our pitch is regularly used,
with our blessing, for community based games and events. We are
a community club in everything but official status.
FF: Regarding your facility, are you happy with what you
currently have? Are you keen to expand/improve in any areas?
GJ: Our pitch is the best playing surface in the area – one of
the best in Scotland at this level. We need investment to allow us
to keep it that way and we need to work together with Hallhill
Sports Centre (who we rent the pitch from) to ensure the quality
of the surface doesn’t deteriorate through over usage or lack of
repair work.
Our proximity to the railway line should present opportunities
for landing major sponsors too. We could do with a small stand
or enclosure being built to keep supports dry in the winter. There
are always improvements that could be made but most teams in
all non-league football would love to have the facilities we do. It’s
about looking after what we have, not massive changes.
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