Ex-Par Stevie Crawford's academy moves to Dunfermline Learning campus

Earlier this summer, the Pars hero, who also played 25 times for Scotland, launched his new venture, offering tuition to boys and girls from the ages of eight up to 16.

Early sessions were held at Dunfermline High School but, from Monday this week, the Stevie Crawford Football Academy will now be based at Dunfermline Learning Campus.

In addition, they have teamed up Gibb's Vehicle Hire, from whom Stevie has sourced a vehicle to keep his new business on the move, to sponsor training kit for the academy.

After initially running classes on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday,each of which had 16 participants, a growth in demand saw Stevie put on additional sessions, on a Tuesday and Thursday, at Queen Anne High School, and he currently has just under 60 kids regularly attending.

Speaking to Press Sport ahead of the move to the learning campus, Stevie revealed that turning 50 in January had re-focused his mind on starting his own academy.

"The bit that I was probably missing, when I'd looked at it after being out at Dundee United (in March 2023, where he had been assistant head coach), was that community feeling, and I started being able to channel where I wanted the academy to go to.

READ MORE: Pars hero aims to find 'next Caroline Weir or Norrie McCathie' with academy venture

"Purposely, I've made it that I don't want it to be seen as an elite school. Yes, I want there to be standards, I want there to be discipline, like I think that football players need - boys, girls, kids of all ages. That's where I'm hoping that we can grow.

"I still think there's kids out there that we can give service and help them, but also their wellbeing. I'm not saying every kid that's coming into academies, whether it's myself or any other academies out there, are going to be professional football players, but the challenges, the mental health side of things, I think I've got a lot that I can give advice and feedback and actually just share stories, things that I had to face or see other players with.

Stevie Crawford's football academy, launched in the summer, will be based at Dunfermline Learning Campus. (Image: David Wardle)

"So that's a big thing, kids that are getting told that they're not good enough at such an age, and then rejection, and then falling out of the game because they're not enjoying it. Enjoyment's a big factor."

Stevie continued: "I got put on to Scott Fenton, who's head of community in the area. That was way back in February this year. I had a great conversation with him.

"We spoke about the campus possibly being somewhere we could get based. I thought with it being in the area of Dunfermline the Duloch area, it'd be brilliant to get my foot in the door there.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't commit at that point. There was a few things we had to overcome, so Scott was great with me, kept in touch, and then put me on to Tony Bennett at Dunfermline High School and then Tony allowed me to get in Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes.

"I can't speak highly enough about what Tony's done for me in a short space of time. And Tony then put me on to Mark (McLeod) because the academy had then grown for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday fully. 16 kids in each class. That was maximised that we opened up a Tuesday, Thursday slot.

"Dunfermline couldn't give me the facility, so I ended up speaking to Mark, that we've met today, and Mark was brilliant. He gave me Tuesday and Thursday at Queen Anne.

"Mark's obviously now involved down here as well at the campus and again just working with people that they see a vision.

"They like what they'd heard from me, I like what I've heard from them we've got to this stage now.

"So, in that space of time as well, I think we're just sitting under 60 kids which, you know, if you'd told me that back in February when I was sitting having that conversation with Scott I would have pinched myself."

Stevie was also delighted to receive sponsorship from Gibb's, who had been recommend to him, and the firm are equally as pleased to back his academy.

Jason Canning, of Gibb's, added: "It's something we'd been talking about for at least year, of sponsoring a local team, or finding a sponsorship, something we could put back into the community and local area.

"It wasn't long after Stevie had walked out, we looked at each other, and said that's the one.

"It goes back on that community feel and giving back. We feel it's a bit more personal, a bit more beneficial for the kids doing something like this, and it also gives the opportunity and room for growth as well, which we're hugely keen on."