Cammy Bell previews Scottish Youth Cup final

It’s been over two decades in the making, but Kilmarnock’s Under 18s are back in the Scottish Youth Cup final – and there’s no better place to do it than Hampden.

As the young Killie squad prepare to take on Dundee Under 18s at the national stadium, former goalkeeper Cammy Bell knows exactly what they’re feeling.

He was part of the last Kilmarnock side to lift the trophy back in 2004, when the final was held at Rugby Park. That team featured future Killie stars like Steven Naismith and Jamie Hamill, alongside Bell himself, who would go on to make his mark at Rugby Park and beyond.

It’s the last time Killie played in a final, although Craig Clark had guided the youngsters to a final in 2020 – but that competition was curtailed due to the pandemic.

Reflecting on his own experience in the competition, Bell remembers the Youth Cup as the centrepiece of the season, the big one every young player wanted to win.

Speaking exclusively to the official Killie website, Bell recalled: “The Youth Cup was always the big goal for everyone,” he said. “Back in the day, it was massively competitive. We had the league, but the cup was where you wanted to show what you were made of.”

His route to the final wasn’t straightforward, with early ties like a long away trip to Huntly etched into his memory.

“Weirdly, I still remember that game against Huntly early on,” he laughed. “That’s the magic of the cup. We navigated our way through, built confidence, and then the final itself was just an unbelievable experience.”

Cammy sees huge value in these experiences for young players. Reaching a national final puts you among the elite at your age group and gives you the exposure needed to take that next step. For Bell, the Youth Cup wasn’t the end goal – it was the start of a pathway.

“That final was a big part of my journey,” he said. “I ended up going on loan to Montrose, then Queen of the South, and eventually broke into the Killie first team. But the cup final gave me that first taste of real pressure and what it’s like to perform on a big stage.”

It’s a message that rings true for today’s crop of academy players. Many already have eyes on the first team under Derek McInnes. Cammy points to players like Bobby Wales and David Watson as proof that the opportunity is there.

“If you’re in a Youth Cup final, you’re at the elite level for your age group. That puts you in a great position. You’ve got to believe that the pathway is there,” he said. “I’ve seen it at Kilmarnock for years. There were players like Kris Boyd who came through and did fantastic. We always had guys to look up to.”

Helping guide the Under 18s now is Head Coach Chris Burke, another former Killie favourite with a wealth of top-level experience. Bell believes Burke is the ideal figure to prepare these players for the big stage.

“Chris knows the game inside out,” he said. “He’s been there, done it, and the lads will be learning so much under him. He’ll have them prepared, and more importantly, he’ll help them enjoy the occasion. That’s massive.”

This year’s final brings something even more special – the chance to play at Hampden. While Bell’s final was at Rugby Park, he says the experience of walking out at the national stadium will be unforgettable for these young players.

“Hampden’s special. The boys will walk out and feel the nerves, but also that excitement. It’s one of those moments in your life you’ll always remember,” he said. “They’ll be nervous, of course they will be, but they’ll also be excited and they’ll be hungry for more of that as well.”

Looking back on his own Youth Cup-winning team, Bell recalls names like Steven Naismith and Jamie Hamill who went on to carve out Killie careers of their own.

“It was a very good group,” he said. “Myself, Naisy, Hamill, we all went on to play senior football. Loads of the other lads kicked on and made good careers out of it too.”

“Hopefully that’s encouraging for the guys going into this final. Yes, there is a pathway. Hopefully it is with Kilmarnock, but if it’s not, then there’s always opportunities because you’ve shown that you’re a good player in a good side.”

Cammy’s final message to the current team is a simple one – embrace every second.

“My advice to the boys? Embrace it,” he said. “Big games in big stadiums don’t come around often. Don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy every second, give it everything, and use it as fuel to push forward in your career, whether that’s at Kilmarnock or beyond.”