Coach Alan’s sporting chance

Oct 8 2008 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

NORTH Lanarkshire's Working scheme has helped one young man to succeed in his dream career.

Nineteen-year-old Alan Lynch, from Cambusnethan, was keen to pursue a career in sports education but felt he lacked the qualifications and experience required.

Before he left school last summer, his careers advisor mentioned he might be interested in the Sporting Chance initiative, run by North Lanarkshire Volunteer Centre, a North Lanarkshire's Working partner organisation. Sporting Chance gives young people aged between 18 and 24 an opportunity to find a career in sports coaching.

Alan explained: “For two months, I trained for two days a week at Wishaw Sports Centre, learning the basics of coaching and how to work with children to help them realise their potential.

“Once the course was finished, I was lucky enough to be taken on by the Scottish Rugby Union.”

He is now a full-time community coach with the SRU and trains two teams of North Lanarkshire youngsters in the sport.