At just 16 years old, Harry McLean has signed a professional football deal with Motherwell.
This is a momentous occasion for Harry, who caught the attention of the club’s youth academy coaches while balancing his National 5 exams earlier this year.
While managing a demanding training regimen, he took seven exams and is optimistic about his results when they are released on Tuesday.
Unlike many other young talents being offered professional contracts, Harry intends to remain in school throughout the next year.
He understands that a two-year contract does not ensure a long-lasting career in football.
“Of course, I aspire to be a professional footballer until I reach 35 or 40,” says Harry.
“But if things don’t pan out, or if injuries occur, or if I don’t perform as expected, having an education is vital.”
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Having navigated the dual challenge of training and studying over the past year, he recognizes the difficulties ahead but emphasizes the importance of achieving the right “balance.”
Harry is among eight new youth contracts awarded by the club for the upcoming season, yet he is the only one choosing to continue his education.
He mentioned, “I plan to pursue five Highers this year. I’ll need to dedicate a lot of time to studying at home, which will be tough, but I believe I can manage it.”
His favorite subjects are math and science, leading him to consider a future in engineering, like his father and older brother. However, for the moment, his attention is focused solely on football.
“When I learned I would be signing full-time, it was amazing because my lifelong ambition has been to be a footballer, and doing it at my home club, Motherwell, made it even more special,” he expressed.
With his new position, Harry’s profile is becoming more prominent. During an interview with BBC Scotland News at Motherwell’s training facility, he was approached by two young fans seeking his autograph.
Harry has been connected with the club since he was a child.
He has served as a ball boy at Fir Park and has held a season ticket for more than ten years.
Now, his aspirations to play with the first team are increasingly within reach.
Harry now trains full-time with the under-18s at Motherwell, aiming to make a mark with his goal-scoring talent and potentially earn a call-up to represent Scotland.
“A couple of the guys, possibly one or two, if performing well with the under-18s might get a spot on the bench or in the match day squad, which is fantastic,” he noted.
Although the new football season is already underway, Harry’s preparation for returning to the classroom resumes next week.
