Tom McKenna sees his selection for Scotland Seniors as ‘a wee personal achievement’. Picture: Alan Hendry
Caithness football coach Tom McKenna is looking forward to having the chance to play at international level – as part of Scotland’s 50-and-over men’s squad.
He has been training regularly with the Scotland Seniors ahead of a Four Nations tournament taking place in Northern Ireland next month.
“I had a chance a few years ago and I just didn’t have the confidence to follow it up,” McKenna (56) explained. “This year I sent my CV and they invited me down for training and it has gone from there.
“I’m down in Glasgow every three weeks training with them. It’s something I am really proud of. It’s a wee personal achievement.”
McKenna, who hails from Cumbernauld, turned out for clubs such as Rochdale, Airdrie and Stenhousemuir during his playing career as well as having a spell in South Africa’s premier league with AmaZulu. He was head of youth at Clyde before moving to Caithness.
He was in charge of Highland League club Wick Academy for almost two-and-a-half years and has also managed Thurso in the North Caledonian League.
McKenna has been manager of Castletown in the Caithness amateur league since 2021 and led the team to a fourth-place finish in Division One this year.
He is in his fourth year as head coach of Caithness Ladies, who are this season’s Highlands and Islands League champions – with a 100 per cent record from nine games – and are well placed to reach the Highlands and Islands League Cup final.
The 11-a-side Four Nations tournament will feature matches between Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales over the course of three days. It will be played in Newcastle, south of Belfast, starting on Friday, September 11.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” McKenna said. “I’m nervous as well but I’ve been doing well in training and I’ve not looked out of place.
“Regarding fitness, I feel good. It gives me a personal goal as well.
“I’m really chuffed with myself. I’ve worked really hard for it.
“I do keep myself relatively fit anyway. I go to the gym four times a week, but this has given me another focus and I’ve really intensified everything that I’ve been doing.
“If I get game time, all well and good. If I don’t, I’ll just utilise the experience.”
Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.