Ally McCoist reckons the romantic road from non-league rags to European riches still functions as a pivotal pathway for aspiring football talent.
The former Scotland and Rangers ace, 59, has loved monitoring Jamie Vardy, Ian Wright and – more recently – Ross Stewart’s rousing journeys through the ranks across a dedicated footballing lifetime.
Leicester hitman Vardy, 35, navigated his way from lowly Fleetwood to searing Premier League - and European – heights while Wright failed to fire on all goalscoring cylinders until a move from Greenwich Borough to Crystal Palace at the age of 21.
Sunderland striker Stewart, 25, received his first Scotland call-up this week after rising through the lower leagues and McCoist insists the avenue is still alive and kicking.
McCoist, who has teamed up with The National Lottery Football Weekends Campaign to celebrate local Football Clubs and the Communities they serve across the four home nations, said: “The pathway is 100 per cent still alive and possible.
“I genuinely do believe that pathway is still available - and I think if we lose that, we lose a massive part of the game.
“Jamie Vardy is the perfect example, Ian Wright was a late starter, while Ross Stewart for Scotland is another one who started at down the league and is now banging in loads of goals in at Sunderland.
“That avenue and that pathway is so, so important. Of course, the clubs have got their own programmes for the kids and I understand that totally – but not everybody develops at the same time.
“This is an avenue that should always, and hopefully will always, remain open to payers and ensure they always have an opportunity to make it all the way through the grades.”
McCoist was speaking from National League side Altrincham FC on Friday morning as part of The National Lottery Football Weekends Campaign, promoting the fact that over 100,000 tickets are being made available on a 'Buy One Get One Free' basis for selected matches in March and April.
The intervention of National Lottery players - stepping in with a crucial over £12.5 million of emergency funding to support them through the worst period of the pandemic and allow them to survive – has helped the non-league pyramid get back on track after the coronavirus pandemic forced football to shut down just over two years ago.
Altrincham’s average attendances are now double the size they were before the pandemic struck thanks to the even closer ties the club have built with their local community and affordable ticket prices.
And McCoist, visiting ahead of Saturday’s crucial National Lottery Football Weekends clash against Aldershot, added: “The funding from The National Lottery is so important and has saved so many clubs.
“I’ve been travelling about and am so impressed with how clubs are using the money to keep themselves, and the community more importantly, alive.
“It’s all about the importance of the club within the community – that’s what we’re promoting.
“I know first-hand how important these clubs are – the community, the feeling, the worth and the value to the community is far greater than anything else.
“It’s magic – there’s something real and close about local community clubs, and that’s why they deserve all the support we can give them.”
McCoist’s visit to the north-west saw him take part in Altrincham’s range of innovative initiatives, including the ‘In The Community’ (AITC) Walking Football sessions at both indoor and outdoor facilities open to all ages and abilities.
AITC also deliver weekly Walking Football sessions for Trafford Veterans Association, providing designated military veterans the opportunity to meet up and enjoy their football in a relaxed but competitive atmosphere and rekindle the banter from their military days.
The group, along with the club's other community groups, worked through donations for Ukraine and put them into a minibus on Friday, where they will eventually be taken to Medyka, on the Polish border, where refugees have been coming across with nothing.
Altrincham also run a range of disability sport activities for children and adults of all ages living with a range of physical and learning difficulties including football, boccia, indoor curling, table cricket, table tennis, cards and dominoes.
And 61-cap international McCoist, who enjoyed watching Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Poland in a Ukraine-fundraising friendly on Thursday night, said: “I’m really excited to be here today.
“It’s the second time I’ve been out and about to promote The National Lottery Football Weekends campaign – I was at Fylde a few weeks ago and have given Walking Football a go here at Altrincham today.
“I’m stood here on the terraces and there’s something refreshing about non-league football - it just takes me all the way back.”
The National Lottery Football Weekends campaign will make over 100,000 tickets available on a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ basis for National Lottery players for selected matches as a ‘thank you’ for over £12.5million of funding they helped provide to community football clubs during the Covid pandemic. To find out more visit www.thenationallotteryfootballweekends.co.uk
