Par graduates from SFA Performance School

Sixteen year old Liam Newton is one of the first Fife Elite players to graduate from the SFA Performance School.

In the words of that famous football fan Rod Stewart “it’s late September and I really should be back at school”. That is just the case for Liam Newton who has returned to Kirkcaldy High School after a four year period at the SFA Performance School.

Liam who was in action this week in the Reserve Challenge Cup against Queen of the South, told this website:-

“It is a four year programme. I did football every day for one to two periods. It finishes at the end of fourth year so I am back at my local high school at the moment.”

Designed as an elite player development programme, it aims to have a positive impact on the pupil’s physical, social, emotional and academic development. Liam continued:-

“My performance school was Broughton High School in Edinburgh. I did the academical work and the football was extra. It was a really good experience and good training every day with top coaches.

“There were good players as well because when I started in first year everybody was from the so called bigger clubs like Hearts and Hibs. I was quite nervous about it but I have really improved. It is a really good programme for young players.

“I feel like it did me a world of good, training every day with good players.”

Liam was selected for the Performance School after two trials for the Fife and Edinburgh regions. He was 12 when he started on the programme but he has been at Dunfermline since the age of ten.

“I have really enjoyed it at Dunfermline. It turned into Fife Elite a year or two into my time at Dunfermline. It has been great and I have been getting opportunities at Dunfermline.

“Stevie and Allan have been great with me and John Potter before. I am really enjoying it.”

Liam has been brought on by coaches Dougie Coulston, Grant Petrie, Robert and Gary.

“They have all been really supportive throughout the programme as well.”

The graduation from the Performance School took place at Hampden while graduates from all seven of the performance schools from around Scotland attending the recent international match v Belgium.

“It was a great experience and I recommend it to all young players if they get the chance.”

As one of the first from Fife Elite to graduate through the Performance School, Liam hopes that the two from Fife Elite in each of the two years below him can follow his success.

“Now I have to keep working hard at Fife Elite and hopefully get the opportunity at Dunfermline.”