It's the only way
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KENNY Dalglish insists Scotland's prospects for long-term success at world and European level will be closely tied in with participation levels in the grassroots game. Dalglish, who won 102 caps and scored 30 goals for Scotland, is confident there is enough young talent coming through for the country to savour a boom in international football achievement. But he insists it must be harnessed in the right manner, and hopes youngsters benefit from a Scottish Football Association drive aimed at raising coaching and playing standards at community clubs and schools across the country. Dalglish, 56, was speaking as he launched the SFA's Quality Mark Award at the home of Cumbernauld Colts. He hit 37 goals for Cumbernauld United as a teenager in 1967-68 after being loaned out by Celtic to gain experience, and Dalglish hopes young Scots respond to their own chance to improve themselves. Dalglish said: "The more Scottish boys that are playing gives George Burley more people to choose from. "So the more young Scottish players there are, the better the national squad is going to be. "And hopefully, in years to come, if one of the kids that came through here goes on to play for the national team then everyone will be absolutely delighted. "There have been a lot of young Scottish boys come to the fore and hopefully we can add to the numbers that have come through from the grassroots level. If someone does come through, it would be a tremendous bonus." Dalglish believes the number of Scots being targeted for high-profile moves to the Barclays Premier League will assure youngsters they can have big futures in the game. The Liverpool and Celtic great also pointed to the example of Hibernian, who have brought through a host of youngsters into their first team. Dalglish said: "There are a lot of young Scottish boys over the last three or four years who have got their opportunity at their respective clubs. "Look at what Hibs have brought through. You'd have never have believed Hearts would have got a British transfer record for a goalkeeper in (Craig) Gordon going to Sunderland. "So there have been one or two kids come through. "This isn't at that level yet because it's not been going long enough, but hopefully it'll get there. "As more Scottish kids come through and play in the Premiership (the Barclays Premier League] then that makes it more gratifying. "We're only interested in developing the kids, and it would encourage them if we've got somewhere else to go." Dalglish believes it is important that youngsters are encouraged to play sport, and hopes the SFA's McDonald's-backed venture will succeed in bringing about higher levels of participation in general. He said: "This scheme has been a great benefit to the grassroots and the kids have shown how much they enjoy it. "We're going in the right direction because we're encouraging them but we've also given them respect. "If they're not going to be footballers, so be it, but they're still taking time to be actively involved in sport." |
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