Youth development to be at the heart of Camelon with new chairman at the helm

New Camelon Juniors FC chairman Gary Clark.

Clark served as the club’s head of youth development before becoming chairman and hopes now to create a clear pathway for local players to join at the youngest level and progress all the way through to the first team.

Speaking to the Falkirk Herald, Clark outlined his plans to continue the good work they have done with young players over the past few years in order to benefit the first team and the club as a whole.

He said: “When I started as head of youth development, there were only two youth teams and no under-20 development squad.

"Now we have created a clear pathway for young talent to develop and hopefully go on to star in the first team.

"We’ll be looking to bring someone in to fill the now-vacant head of youth development role and continue that work.

"We still have some age groups missing that we want to add, including a mini Mariners team where children at the youngest age possible can begin their football development with us.

"Our under-20s squad is getting better and better each year, and that progress is something that has to go hand in hand with the club’s development.

"We have Jack Denholm, who came through our under-20s and is now playing with the first team, while other players have moved on to sign pro contracts elsewhere.

"We have to live within our means, but we are also ambitious, so producing our own players will be key.”

As well as the advantages he hopes a clear pathway to the first team will have for players and the club, Clark also sees the benefits of that to their role as a club at the heart of their community.

"We’ve already created some new fans with our growing youth system,” said Clark.

"We're a club that sits right in the heart of the community. The work we do in there is important and we want the community to get behind us.

"We want to see local people coming along to the games when fans are allowed to come back.

"Right now, that is the biggest thing for us. We just can’t wait to have fans back in the ground watching the team and also seeing all the great things we've got planned.”