Samuel Maclennan, has been taking the North of Scotland football scene by storm. Playing junior football for Ross County, and having represented the North of Scotland Schools team, he has been showing his talent across the country.
Like many young people, Samuel, from Gress on the Isle of Lewis, originally started the game at the age of four, playing socially with friends for fun. But Samuel's talent was quickly spotted, resulting in him playing with older age groups and being scouted by Ross County whilst in primary five.
Being scouted by Ross County was a massive achievement for the whole Maclennan family, however, it came with it's challenges, including the commitment of travelling to the mainland to play matches. This is an area where sportscotland’s Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) has been able to offer support.
ATAS provides funding to performance level athletes from Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles and Highland, with an overall aim of supporting the cost of traveling to developmental opportunities and competitions.
With Samuel growing up a Rangers Football Club fan, his debut at Ross County was one to be remembered, as they were facing his boyhood club. At age eleven, he can still remember what it felt like, coming out on top with an 8-5 victory, he said: “It was an unbelievable experience, even though we were so little, it was actually like, wow it’s actually happening I’m playing big teams now.”
Rising to the challenge
After making his debut for his new club, Samuel continued to rack up the achievements, being chosen to represent North of Scotland Schools secondary three team. Playing regionally was a big step up in level, but Samuel rose to the challenge, scoring nine goals in four matches, meeting the West of Scotland schools’ team in the final, where they unfortunately lost. Nevertheless, Samuel remembers this experience fondly: “That was an unreal experience again, and it was all of the best boys from the Highlands playing together, it was brilliant.” The 17-year-old said.
Living in Gress, Lewis, traveling back and forth to the mainland can result in longer, more costly trips than many of his peers so the ATAS funding Samuel has received over the last five years has been invaluable.
Samuel said, “In terms of away games, it’s probably a two or three night stay most of the time, and that money, that can get us a hotel and it can get our car on the ferry which is a massive help”.
Although Samuel now plays at a high level, he still values many of the benefits that sport can provide, with his mental health positively being impacted throughout his journey.
“It’s been a massive distraction to other things that have been going on in my life, as in just keeping my mind focused on football and that only. It’s stopped me from thinking about anything else that can be negatively impacting my mental state".
Growing up playing for Back Football Club, Samuel has always appreciated the social aspect of the sport. He explained how this is another area where he has been impacted psychologically: “It’s brilliant to be at home as well just to play for enjoyment, just to meet friends and hang out.”
A team behind the talent
To help Samuel develop, he is being supported by sportscotland’s institute of sport. This consisted of having a Performance Development Plan (PDP), which was delivered by Darren Beatie, one of sportscotland’s institute of sport’s Physical Preparation contractors. This is something that Samuel finds hugely beneficial “Now I’m with Darren, and weights have gone up and everything has gone up. It’s been an amazing experience doing it with him, as he has helped me so much.”
Samuel’s youth career in football hasn’t been without its challenges. Breaking his collar bone a total of four times, it has taken a lot of determination and resilience to bounce back. This is another point where sportscotland’s institute of sport have supported, with Physiotherapist contractor Meggan Taylor helping Samuel return to the sport, “She was a massive part of my recovery, and practically all the credit for my recovery goes out to her” he said.
With a strong contingent of girls and boys from the Western Isles traveling back and forth to the mainland to represent Scottish football clubs, Samuel recognises his position as a role model for younger athletes.
He said: “Where I am right now is where they want to be four years from now, and it’s the same with those that are older than me, that have made it into first team levels. I want to be where they are right now, such as Andrew MacLeod at Ross County, James Graham, who was down at Rangers when he was 16, Adam Mackinnon who is at Caley, and Keith Bray down at Dunfermline, all these boys have been role models for me growing up.”
Find out more
To find out more about the ATAS fund across the Highlands and Islands, visit: Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) - sportscotland the national agency for sport in Scotland
