FORMER Pars and Kelty Hearts ace Joe Cardle believes that coaches being able to pass on their experiences of football at the top level has helped his academy build "a really good platform".

This week, the Joe Cardle Academy has been holding October camps, for which they have teamed up with Dunfermline Athletic to provide every child participating with a complimentary ticket for their match with Greenock Morton this weekend.

Spaces on each of the four days, taking place at Dunfermline Learning Campus, were quickly snapped up, and Joe, 37, has been thrilled with the progress the academy has made since he set it up four years ago.

In addition to himself, as head coach, Joe can call upon the likes of Nat Wedderburn, an ex-Dunfermline team-mate, currently playing with Stenhousemuir and also formerly of Cowdenbeath, Spartans defender, Chris Inglis, and midfielder, Brogan Walls, who also plays for the Edinburgh-based League Two side.

And, speaking to Press Sport, Joe explained: "All our coaches are playing at a very high level.

"They're all professional football players themselves, so it kind of helps that our coaches have all been there and done that, and are still currently doing it, and I think that helps with the younger generation, if there's any questions or if there's even mentoring, that side of thing.

"Because we've been there and done it, and we've seen it, especially for players like myself and Nat Wedderburn, that've played at a very high level, we can kind of give our side of things, give our experiences, and hopefully help this this younger generation coming through.

Former Pars and Cowdenbeath star, and current Stenhousemuir player, Nat Wedderburn, is one of the coaches involved in the academy.Former Pars and Cowdenbeath star, and current Stenhousemuir player, Nat Wedderburn, is one of the coaches involved in the academy. (Image: David Wardle.)

"I think the children will have respect and they will listen to these coaches because they're playing at those sort of levels, and because they obviously live and breathe, it the coaches, they're trying to obviously help and develop the younger ones within the session."

Joe added: "We've built a really good platform.

"Obviously, Monday to Friday, we're still working with our one-to-ones and our group sessions for all dedicated age groups, and I think the summer kind of speaks for itself.

"We sold out our camps and children seem to be coming back on the regular because of, obviously the enjoyment factor first and foremost, but they're obviously learning something.

"All our camps the way they're designed, there's stations and we work on specific drills.

"Each station was designed in the summer. There was a shooting drill, there was a passing drill, there was a possession drill, there was an agility drill, so they're coming in and, even though, it is a camp first and foremost to enjoy, they're working hard and they're benefiting and developing within that."

For more information on the Joe Cardle Academy, you can find them on Facebook, X and Instagram.