Inverkeithing High pupil in U20s

More youthful talent ready to fill the places vacated by those stepping up. Stuart Morrison made his debut in the under 20s less than a week after his fifteenth birthday.

Stuart Morrison made his debut in the under 20s less than a week after his fifteenth birthday. The centre back attends Inverkeithing High School and stays in Dalgety Bay. He joined Dunfermline at under ten level while he was still in primary four at Donibristle Primary School.

Currently coached by Stephen Wright, John Potter and Robert O'Neill in the under 17s, Stuart has played in central midfield in the past but got moved back at under 13 level.

"I like attacking the ball in the air, getting the ball forward to my strikers feet. I'd say my greatest strength is heading in defence."

Stuart made his debut in the under 20s against Inverness Caley Thistle away on Thursday 24th April and although no stranger to that stadium admitted to being ever so slightly nervous:-

"Once I got on and made a few passes I relaxed and came into my game a bit. I really enjoyed it."

All this was made all the more special since Stuart has been an Inverness supporter from a young age. This is by virtue of his mother coming from the Highland capital.

"I watch quite a lot of their games because my mum was born in Inverness and my grandparents live in Inverness as well. That is the reason I support them; when I come up to visit them I go to the games there.

"At the minute I admire Gary Warren and Josh Meekings because they play the same position as me - centre half. I look up to them and when I see them play I try and watch what they do good and what they do bad so I can work on my own game as well. In the past Andrew Shinnie impressed me before he went down to Birmingham City."

Making his debut against the team he supports is just one of the many opportunities that the third year pupil feels have opened up for him at Dunfermline Athletic:-

"When I get day release on a Thursday I get to train with the twenties. It is great being involved around Pitreavie and having the opportunity to be on the bench for the twenties. Getting pushed up to the seventeens is good since I started the season in the fifteens. I have been pushed on to the seventeens to try and improve my game and I am really enjoying it."

When training with the U20s Stuart is delighted to be coached by John Potter especially since he is such an experienced central defender as well.

"He gives me tips before and after a game which I can take into my game to try and improve on. When I first started coming in on day release I was quite nervous but that has made me quite confident. I can bring confidence into my own game on Sundays with the seventeens."

Stuart has schoolmates who play at other clubs but he has a strong belief that Dunfermline is the place to be, he added:-

"I do not think that you get this kind of opportunity at any other Scottish football club at the minute. All the under twenties had to go into the first team after what happened last year and that has pushed everyone on in the youth system.

"It is very good that Dunfermline have given me this opportunity. I am really enjoying my football at the minute and I'd like to push on further to maybe be offered a contract in my future years at Dunfermline."