Paul Davies sets out Carluke football vision

Paul Davies (38) is creating an under-21s side in the town in a bid to give young players here a chance to thrive.

It’s all part of a dream to one day have a team from Carluke playing in the Lowland League with the possibility of promotion into the senior ranks.

Former agent Paul, who once represented ex-Manchester United star Mikael Silvestre and German ace Torsten Frings, is currently on the hunt for talent to fill his teams.

He said: “In the UK this year over 700 youngsters will be released from their contracts and will have to look for alternative employment.

“A lot of kids don’t even get selected for senior clubs and I want to create a pathway they can experience locally which can lead to lifelong football in Carluke.”

Paul, who has also scouted for Hartlepool and Chesterfield, is currently director of Avant Sports Management and community initiative company Sporting Solutions CIC. Born in Wales, he has lived in Carluke since his family moved here when he was six.

His over-35s team has been a huge success and he now he wants to replicate that in the lower age levels by finding under-21 players to star in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League.

He said: “Last year I set up the over-35s team in Carluke along with David Goodwin. It’s gone really well and the interest has been phenomenal.

“I was also co-founder of the Central Region over-35s League which is the only affiliated over-35s league in Scotland.

“This has gone from one division of ten teams to two divisions of ten teams within a year.

“We have fantastic youth football in Carluke. My own son plays for Milton Rovers and there is Carluke United and Roar FC too.

“I want to set out a five-year year plan which will see Carluke FC form teams at under-21s, under-18s and under-16s which link into the other clubs in the town.

“The ultimate goal is to take a side into the South of Scotland League or Lowland League within two years.”