The sight of Scott Brown making his debut for the Hibs reserve side in an Edinburgh derby was one to behold.
A decent crowd of around 800 were inside Easter Road and as I prepared to take centre, I looked over my shoulder to the lamb to the slaughter at right back. A 16-year-old Broony was up against Jean-Louis Valois. Wee Scot was skinny as a rake, it looked like being an unfair mismatch against a winger who had thighs like pistons, top to toe ripped. I genuinely feared for him, Valois was going to terrorise that wee guy, I'm sure I wasn't alone in thinking that.
Just a few seconds into the game, the ball was played out to Valois and Broony came flying in from nowhere and nearly launched the Frenchman into Leith Docks. It was in front of the main stand, there was a collective gasp, 'who is this kid?' Valois did a vanishing act and I came off the park looking at Broonie in a new light, the Tasmanian devil had been born. That's just a story to walk hand in hand with the decision by Hibs not to field B teams in the proposed Conference League which is hoping to be brought in for the 2023-24 season.
When the idea of having B teams in the Lowland League I was initially positive about it but no longer. It isn't working and needs to be brought to a halt. It's been in operation for a couple of years and the big thing which changed my mind is the failure of any club to bring kids into their first teams.
Youth development is all about trying to bring young boys though and there's zero evidence of that. I've already lamented the lack of young Scottish players getting first team game time this season and the statistics are horrendous.
We need to get back to the good old Premier Reserve League. The Hibs reserve side would play in the same shape as the first team and you would get experienced players coming down to help them.
Colt team is a new word for youth team, none of these boys are playing alongside any older heads and it's a massive link in development which is being missed. You can't underestimate the importance of on-field guidance, playing against men, learning good habits and another darker side of the game, the streetwise tricks which only older professionals can pass on.
Celtic, Rangers and Hearts can't point towards one young player and say playing in the Lowland League has progressed them into their top team plans, I'll stand corrected if I'm wrong but I'd doubt it. As a former advocate of the Colt teams, I'm just not having it now.
The Premiership clubs are also barging their way to the front and buying their way in in terms of making a significant financial payment to the other clubs. £100,000 to be a part of the set-up is all a bit blatant but how Lowland League can you go?
Paying to get to the front of the cue isn't right, there's an integrity issue at play. There was also supposed to be a commercial benefit for clubs gaining from larger crowds when the Old Firm came to town.
It's been another myth, the games are scheduled too close to first team games and the attendances haven't shown to be significant, there's little appeal from fans to get along to see their youth teams.
I'm very conscious of not disrespecting Lowland League clubs as I know some of them are so well run and of a standard but the competition is youth teams against some teams which are just one rung above the juniors.
Don't shoot the messenger here but these boys aren't pitting their wits week in and week out against good, experienced players.
The opposition consists of lower league players and you don't learn anything from them. Bad habits are just as easily picked up as good ones. You certainly don't learn anywhere near as much as you would from facing established Premiership players.
When I played for the Hibs reserve side there were always three or four older guys in the side who were coming back from injury or out of the picture and you learned from them. The games were played inside the stadiums, which is no longer the case.
Playing at Easter Road, Tynecastle, Celtic Park or Ibrox was such a thrill as a teenager and these things matter. The most important aspect is getting the opportunity to play against experienced players.
I remember going to Tannadice as a kid and playing against Maurice Malpas. He was just coming to the end of his career and I was only at the beginning. Malpas was a legend and there I was up against him, listening to him talk and just playing against someone of that stature is an education.
Playing as a teenager at Ibrox in a reserve game against Colin Hendry and Scott Wilson is a game which stands out. My strike partner that day was Kenny Miller and we both scored in a 3-0 win.
McManus against the Scotland captain, it was unreal and you lean massively on these occasions. Broony also played that game, I just can't recall but I'm sure the Tasmanian devil also bared his teeth that night.
