A TALENTED football who plies his trade in the Three Towns is on the cusp of representing his country.
TASS Thistle and Saltcoats Victoria youngster Jack Robertson has recently earned himself a call up for the Scotland Boys football team.
The talented teen will get to pull on the Scotland jersey on July 30, as the Scots face off against Wales at Stenhousmuir's Ochilview Park.
The match is organised by the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Scotland (BGCS) - and the fixture has featured stars like former Ranger Captain, John Greig, and Celtic striker, John Hartson, in the past.
The BGCS was founded in 1928 and works with governments, public bodies, trusts and many other agencies to foster a sense of competition, participation, community and wellbeing in sports ranging from football to rugby, golf, and even American football.
The range of events, sports and activities are all designed to help young people fulfil their potential, become fitter and healthier, as well as providing a platform for exposure at elite sporting levels.
With the internet, gaming, and mental health being at the forefront of our daily lives and news cycles, these sporting initiatives have never been more important.
It is a fantastic achievement by Jack to be selected for this match - after coming through a stringent trial process.
Jack was invited to regional trials in Ayrshire with over 30 other boys, then progressed to a further trial in Crieff, where a total of 32 players from both the North and South Regions vied for a spot in the final squad of 16.
The former Grange Academy pupil will run onto the pitch a few weeks before his Higher results are announced and he hopes to begin an engineering apprenticeship.
Taking a cue from his favourite teams, Chelsea and Real Madrid, the creative midfielder will first be hoping to engineer a win for Scotland, supporting the strikers and linking play between attack and defence.
And, if given the chance, he will seek to dominate in the air and score a goal or two with his head.
But for Jack, a former Bellfield player and currently on dual terms with both TASS Thistle under 18’s and Saltcoats Vics, it’s not just about the 90 minutes on the pitch at Ochilview.
The big game against Wales will follow a similar pattern to men’s internationals, with the players meeting up at the University of Stirling on the morning of July 29, before heading for a light training session.
The squad will then attend a professional football match where, as guests for the day, they can be expected to be invited onto the park at halftime to receive a warm reception.
A pre-match meal will be followed by an early breakfast at 7am, before heading to the stadium.
Following the game the players will head back to the hotel for the post-match meal with the Wales’ squad, prior to the formal trophy presentation.
The footballers will then individually be called up on stage to be presented with their International Cap as recognition for playing for their country. It’s the kind of moment most of us can only dream about.
For all the players, officials and families and friends involved with both the Scotland and Wales teams it’ll be a great experience and something to be very proud off.
Jack will be backed the whole way by his sponsors, Ayrshire estate agents Lomond Property where his dad is director.
The business will be documenting his progress along the way - and you can see this via their Facebook page at facebook.com/lomondproperty/.
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