JOHN PARK IS THE HIBEES YOUTH MENTOR

JOHN PARK started his career in a car park coaching kids - now he has a group of laddies who are the future force of Scottish football.

The ‘Hibs Youth Academy’ director, is responsible for unearthing some of the most exciting young talent in today's game including from the current crop Derek Riordan, Garry O'Connor, Steven Whittaker and Ian Murray who have led the way for Tony Mowbray's side this season as they push up the table to the dizzy heights of third.

John Park who is 48, looks on with pride from his offices at Easter Road, where he also doubles as the club's chief scout.

He moved to Easter Road six years ago from the ‘Well when Alex McLeish was boss and re-structured Hibs' youth programme from top to bottom.

Along with his assistants of Billy Hendry and Dave Macmillan he oversees the teams at all age levels from the under-10’s to the under-19’s , backed up with coaches, top-class facilities at Dalziel Park in Lanarkshire and a first-class scouting network. It's a long way from Park's first start in the senior game, when he was asked to coach the Under-18s at Hamilton Academicals FC.

John said: 'I played amateur with Burnbank Oak in Hamilton, but gave up playing to start my own team when I was 28.

'My wife Christine persuaded me to give it a go. She was fed-up with me moaning about how I'd do things, so my pal Joe McGreavy and I took over amateur side Woodhead Oak.

'We quickly progressed from Lanarkshires Div. Five to Div. One and that alerted Hamilton Accies who called to ask if I'd put together an under-18 team for them.

'Billy McLaren was the manager then and they were good days. We helped bring through boys like Colin Cramb, Steve Renwick and Jim Sherry.

'We trained in the pot-holed car park outside Douglas Park twice a week, with four bulbs at the top of posts for lighting.

'The first team used it as well and the kids loved the way everyone mucked in together and the highlight for me was winning the Scottish Under-18 Cup at Hampden.'

Park had already knocked back an approach from Tommy McLean to move to Fir Park but, when asked again, dared not turn him down a second time.

At Motherwell he helped develop the careers of James McFadden, Lee McCulloch, Steve Craigan and Steve Hammell before McLeish persuaded him to follow him to Easter Road.

After two years part-time in Leith, Park eventually quit his job as an IT manager at Caledonian University to concentrate totally on his job at Hibs.

He said: 'I knew the potential at Hibs' was massive. A huge factor was its status as a city club. To succeed in the Scottish game I genuinely believe you need to be a city club.

'I answer directly to chairman Rod Petrie and his support for youth development has been unstinting. The board have backed us to the hilt with anything we've asked for.

'I also enjoy working with Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus. They appreciate the benefit of a strong youth structure as they came from Ipswich - one of the best clubs in Britain at nurturing talent.’ Churning out the likes of Kieron Dyer, Marcus Bent and our very own Sam Morrow.

Park is very proud of the system at Hibs and insists that almost every major club in Scotland is now committed to youth.

He said: 'I'm a member of the SFA steering group on youth development and everyone is working hard. There are good young players out there and they will emerge. It bodes well for our clubs and the national team.

'The emphasis at Hibs on giving youth its chanc, makes it easier for us to attract good players. Parents call me regularly about bringing their kids into the club.

'As chief scout, I'm also well placed to work with Tony and offer advice on which positions he doesn't need to focus on so much as we have players coming through who can do a job.

'We estimate 62 per cent of the kids in our system from the age of 14 represent the club eventually at pro level and we're keen that continues.

'It's great to see Garry and Derek making an impact in the first team and there are others in the wings such as Steven Fletcher and Jamie McCluskey.

'And don't get me started on our under-15 team. Now there's a group of players to get you buzzing.'