Callum Sandilands

A look at some of the best players I’ve seen in the past few years at either U18s or U23s level or currently playing in non-league who've either left a really positive impression or whose careers I follow with genuine interest to see how they're doing every week.

Player: Callum Sandilands

Age: 16

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Club: Hearts

 

Whenever I went to Scotland last season, one player who I enjoyed watching on more than one occasion was Callum Sandilands.

An nifty and nimble attacking-midfielder and only 16, always wearing a protective strapping on his left wrist and always completing a superstitious right step and jump before every game, he stands out in more ways than one.

Callum Sandilands after signing his pro deal last summer.
(Photo: Heart Of Midlothian FC).

In fairness I did know a bit about Callum before watching him ‘live’ for the first time in a Youth Cup game against East Kilbride which was played at Falkirk's stadium in October.

Despite ScotRail's best attempts to kibosh my plans, I got to the game just in time and it was worth the extra effort of an elongated bus journey because his technical understanding, natural intelligence and knack of being able to float into clever pockets of space left a really positive impression. He played with a level of maturity; there was a cushioned 50-yard pass on the volley followed by a sprint to get into a good attacking position which I'm able to recall vividly, and he worked relentlessly to get the goal that he eventually bagged late on.

On other occasions when I've watched Callum, he's posed a danger and shown he can anticipate certain situations. The chances are that if a ball drops to him anywhere inside the box then he'll instinctively smash it into the back of the net. It's something which Dundee United’s U18s found out to devastating effect in April when he put FOUR goals past them in just one half - thus sending the TFIM Twitter Feed into overdrive with all the quickfire goal updates.

 

However, the statistic I feel that best gives him the credit he deserves is the fact he was directly involved in 36 goals (20 goals and 16 assists) in all competitions last term. It isn't bad; particularly when you consider that he wouldn't have even started his YTS yet if he was playing south of the border.

 

It's testament to who he is that he cemented a place in a good Hearts team which did well in the CAS Elite League and also made it all the way to the Scottish Youth Cup Final where they narrowly lost to Rangers on a memorable night at Hampden Park.

 

His family are a great supportive unit who, rain or shine, are always there at every game. It's easy to tell he's been brought up the right way and it spoke volumes regarding his humble nature that straight after the final whistle and subsequent presentations at the Cup Final, the first thing he did was to go up into the stands and give his Grandma a massive hug, show her his medal, and enjoy that special moment with her which she'll always remember.

I'm just glad I was in the right place at the right time to get that photo (below) because it's the sign of a respectful lad with good values who has all the love in the world for those who've helped him. That's why his entire family and everyone else close to him are immensely proud of the man he's becoming every single day and all the memories he's creating along the way.

Hugging his Grandma after the game at Hampden.

I can spot good leadership qualities from miles away and Callum's got those. I've seen it on the pitch at times when he's been talking to team-mates during games; helping, encouraging or organising whenever it's been required, and always striving to achieve the best outcome.

 

Considering how well things went for him for last season, it's actually easy to forget that he had to work hard and prove himself to get his opportunity at Hearts again. That's because, despite having been in the academy in his younger days, he returned as a trialist to begin with last summer following a stint at Rangers.

Some pre-season goals (including a hat-trick against Chelmsford which is on YouTube) and then one against Hamilton, putting in some solid individual displays, demonstrating key character traits and quickly becoming ‘one of the lads’ in a team which always works hard for the player next to them, all played a part in him being rewarded with a professional contract on his 16th birthday. 

It takes some doing to achieve that kind of present but Callum achieved it.

 

Every player needs distinguishing features, a good attitude and drive and determination to have a chance of succeeding and he's got all those in abundance. 

 

That said, there's still some way to go before he can start to even contemplate the prospect of performing his 'right step and jump ritual' at Tynecastle on a first team matchday, and the next hurdles in his development are to come back in pre-season, earn a place in Hearts' B Team, and then get to grips with the gritty reality of what the Lowland League is all about.

 

I'm already looking forward to visiting random places such as Dalbeattie Star, Bo'ness United and Spartans in the near future and my hope for Callum is, just like he did when he pranked his sister as a 14-year-old in a lockdown video clip, he can get his name onto a few more news websites with exploits involving a football again. His older sister might enjoy that much more!

 

So stay level-headed, don't get carried away or become distracted, be pleased with what you've achieved in the past year because you've done well and deserve this write up, but strive to achieve so much more and get so much better - and I'll see you up at an obscure ground very soon.

With self-belief and a good attitude you can continue to keep making a positive impression which was enough to convince me that you're a decent player with some good qualities.

 

I hope you enjoyed Lanzarote too!