Morton in the Community: Shaun MacDonald on his dream job

Shaun MacDonald, 28, the initiative's Football For All Project worker, has been coaching with the charity for eight years.

His easy-going nature and sense of fun has made him a hit with all ages, from nursery kids to primary and secondary school pupils.

Shaun said: "This is my dream job. Ever since I was young, I always wanted to work in sport.

"I played football for a bit but I had a total obsession for watching it and I preferred coaching to playing it."

The former Inverclyde Academy pupil studied sports coaching to HNC level at college after leaving school.

He started as a volunteer coaching the MITC girls’ team and during holiday camps - before eventually working his way up to get a job.

He said: "I am a huge Morton fan, so it's my dream job. Every day is different.

"I could be working with nursery kids in the morning, have a bit of fun playing games and using their imagination, and other times I'm working with primary school kids and after- school clubs which has different challenges."

Morton in the Community's football camps have proved hugely popular with local children during the school holidays.(Image: Duncan Bryceland)

He quipped that being a big kid himself helps him to engage with youngsters.

Shaun said: "I'm more of a kid than they are - I never stop a session on time because I'm enjoying it so much. I just get carried away.

"I love tapping into the kids’ imagination - at nursery age I use cartoons such as the Teletubbies and get them to look for the characters as a fun activity to help with controlling the ball, jumping and moving.

"We'll play another game featuring the Gruffalo. It's a way to engage with them at their own level."

(Image: Newsquest)

Shaun worked closely with now-retired MITC coach Paddy McAlees, starting when he was a volunteer, and the pair struck up a good rapport.

Shaun said: "I worked with Paddy for six years and he gave me pointers about working with different groups but also told me to go with my own instincts when it came to coaching."

So much so that as part of Paddy’s retirement farewell bash, he and Shaun took to the Beacon Arts Centre’s stage with their own all-singing, all-dancing show with funny sketches looking back on some of their favourite moments from the Morton in the Community projects they’ve been involved with over the years.

Shaun said: "Paddy was very supportive of me and said that he could retire early knowing that the coaching was in my capable hands.

"The show at the Beacon was a great success. I just wanted to make sure it went well for Paddy as this was the last thing we would do together. We got great feedback from the families.

"I always enjoyed drama at school - I maybe would have done that if I hadn't caught the football bug.

“I'm not bigging myself up but I felt good on stage. People always say I should work in a holiday park as a children's entertainer!"

(Image: Newsquest)

Modest Shaun says that while he’s always delighted to see young footballers who have taken their first steps in the game under the Morton in the Community umbrella develop and move on, he doesn’t really give a great deal of thought to his own part in how those youngsters have come on.

“You are only as good as your last session,” he said

"I must have coached thousands of kids over the years. I coach nursery, primary, high school, micros and minis, after school and holiday camps."

Shaun lives with his parents, Duncan and Pauline, and his younger sister Cara, and is dating Melissa, who works in a nursery.

Shaun admits he loves working with the nursery kids best, and enjoys hearing all their stories.

He said: "It's my favourite age group. The tell me about what they are doing, their sleepovers with their pals, and when they are going to see family members.

"They stop you on the street waving and pointing, saying 'hey Shaun'. There's folk pamping their horns at me that I don't even know.

"My advice to someone who wants to coach is 'to be yourself' and enjoy it.”

As far as the future goes Shaun says he is happy doing the job he loves for 'as long as Morton puts up with him'.