Half-Term Report

Tommy McIntyre’s update on Celtic’s reserve recruits.

- Joe Donnelley

FROM the Quality Street Gang of the late 1960s, to today’s crop of first-team Youth Academy graduates, Celtic’s record for developing players is unrivalled.

Next year, Tommy McIntyre celebrates a decade in charge of the club’s Professional Academy, and he reckons the current pool of fledgling stars boasts some of hardest-working talent he’s ever coached.

Following this season’s re-structure, the SPFL Reserve League pares back the fixture overload of previous campaigns, and McIntyre admits this, combined with international breaks, has somewhat offset momentum.

Nevertheless, he has been delighted with his squad’s application – both domestically and on the international stage.

A staggering six Celtic Academy players – Stephen Welsh, Robbie Deas, Daniel Church, Kerr McInroy, Jack Aitchison and Ryan Mullen – started in Scotland’s 2-1 UEFA European qualifier win over Wales last month, Barry Coffey captained the Republic of Ireland Under-18 squad and scored in their 2-1 win over Belgium on the same day, and the ever-impressive Armstrong Okoflex represents England at Under-16 level.

At home, the Reserves are enjoying a good run of form, and recently followed a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Partick Thistle in the Glasgow Cup, with an equally emphatic 4-0 league win over Queen of the South. All of which reflects the hard work of McIntyre and his staff behind the scenes.