Ryan tackles qualifications

Ryan Thomson is presented with his Modern Apprenticeship in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (Football) .

Ryan Thomson is presented with his Modern Apprenticeship from John Ritchie

Ryan Thomson is a product of the Dunfermline Athletic youth system and has successfully graduated to the first team where so far this season he has made 23 appearances. Now the 20 year old has also received recognition for his vocational career recently completing his Modern Apprenticeship which encompasses an SVQ Level 3 in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (Football).

The Pars midfielder enjoyed the course and was pleasantly surprised that the course wasn't as bad as he had feared. Other Pars participants on the course included fellow first team member Paul Willis, Jordan White (now at Falkirk) and former U19 team mates Lee Graham and Harry McGregor:-

"It was good doing it with the other boys. I thought it was going to be harder because I had heard it was difficult but that was from boys who had been in a bigger group. Here there were just six of us in a small room. It was easier going through the modules in a smaller group because explaining things to a few of us at the same time was better than being in a bigger class."

Former Pars Youth Coach, John Ritchie acts as the A1 Assessor for the formal training scheme that is organised for youth players at Dunfermline. He explained:-

"This two year programme is run by Sports Skills Scotland through the SFA. It is easier for the Club to go back for funding for future years if we can show that they have progressed through the Club and are still attached to it.

"A Modern Apprenticeship is a contract between the Club and the SFA. When a boy signs on as an apprentice professional they are enrolled on a Modern Apprenticeship. That is made up of two parts; one is a day at college doing different courses that they select. These courses can be Highers, European Computer Driving Licence, one is doing Aviation Engineering, others work experience including painting and decorating. They get a Wednesday off to do that."

Ryan attended Reid Kerr College and was with other footballers from Celtic, Kilmarnock , St Mirren. He continued:-

"The course I did was an introduction to all the trades, e.g. bricklaying, plastering, painting, tiling and there was a bit of computing in it as well. It was worthwhile, you got a lot out of it.There were certain things I was just not any good at.  Plastering just wasn't my thing, I couldn't get the hang of it.  Even though it was only a basic course, it gave me a wee look at things and if anything bad happened and I didn't make it then I won't be plastering!  I enjoyed bricklaying and I thought painting was easy."

The other part is the SVQ in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (Football) - a Scottish Vocational Qualification at Level 3. That is a supervisor status and is based on the National Occupational Standards developed by SkillsActive and is intended for people in the sport and recreation sector.  This part is delivered at Pitreavie by John Ritchie. The SVQ allows candidates to achieve recognition for sporting performance. It develops the skills and knowledge that will enable candidates to achieve excellence in their particular sport. The Unit titles indicate the areas where the knowledge and skills will be developed.

Ryan has been delighted with the opportunities that he has had this season. He has started seven times in the SPL and once in the Scottish Cup and claims that once you get in the team you want to stay in it:-

"It's not as easy as that especially as a youngster coming in and we have had our problems this season. Probably if you have said at the start of the season that I would have played this amount of games then I would have been happy with that. Once you get something you always want more and I think that shows a wee bit of ambition. I have been on the park over 20 times this season, even though some have only been for ten minutes or so. It is still experience and it can only make me a better player if I can get time on the pitch."

With experienced midfielders in the Pars first team squad Ryan has no shortage of advice and even after being presented with his Modern Apprenticeship he is still learning:-

"Every day in training is an experience and you get experience all the time. I've still to grow up a wee bit more obviously and I'm still young compared to a lot of people so I just need to keep listening and learning."

The Modern Apprenticeship is an important cash injection to the Club. John Ritchie explained that every youth player going on the MA must have a two year contract at the Club.