U18s: A catch-up with coach Robbie Liddell

Our under-18s have enjoyed plenty of success in the past couple of years.

And again the young team are carving out a productive season in the Club Academy Scotland Performance League.

Entering the new year second in the table with a record of five wins, two draws and three losses from 10 matches, excitement is high for the remainder of the campaign.

As well as a number of familiar faces, plenty of youngsters have made the step up to help the squad in recent months. 

“Last year, in particular, we had a lot of full-timers,” explained U18s coach Robbie Liddell. “But this year it is a younger team.

“We actually hit the ground running this season, although there were a couple of slip-ups along the way where we dropped points having been in winning positions.

“But it has all been part of the learning curve. You need these challenges to learn and to understand the game. As we moved towards the winter break, we really started to show a high level of game understanding.”

One particular game in the latter half of last year that stood out was a gritty – and deserved – 2-1 victory on the road against Dunfermline.

“I think back especially to that 2-1 win against Dunfermline,” Robbie said.

“We had a very inexperienced side and the weather was terrible, but we dug out the victory. We had two or three of our full-time players unavailable, but we said to everyone: ‘Why don’t you be the one who stands up?’

“We want to push every single player on. And on that night, each and every one of them was brilliant from the first minute to the last.”

The group has returned for the beginning of 2025 with a spring in their step and determined to improve further.

Robbie continued: “Everyone was keen to get back in after a short break over Christmas. The cobwebs were blown away, we were back moving again and getting the fitness built up.

“The boys all want to play to get the right results, but it is important they are developing as well. We have a lot of good full-time boys but it’s also about pushing the part-time players to see if they can close the gap and to get the opportunity.

“We always want our players to keep progressing and build the four pillars of the game: technical, tactical, physical and physiological.

“Going forward, we’re challenging the players to make sure that we are always striving to be better.”

Numerous academy prospects have stepped up to either train or be involved with the first team matchday squad.

Fran Franczak was heavily involved in Simo Valakari’s squad through the festive period while Brodie Dair and Arran Brookfield featured on the bench.

“It shows there is an opportunity for the players in the academy,” Robbie said. “It is not just one who has been able to make the move up, it is two or three who are getting recognition.

“That should hopefully give confidence to the other players in the squad to think: ‘Why can I not be the next one?’ We keep telling them that.

“The ultimate aim is to develop them for the first team. It’s about good habits, understanding the game and doing the right things on and off the pitch.”

The U18s were due to travel to face Ross County on Friday (January 10) but that match has been postponed until a later date.