The story behind the viral Glasgow's football TikTok star

Having come through Celtic's youth academy and with a footballing CV which includes Dundee United, Dumbarton and Airdrie, Sam Wardrop walked away from the game he grew up with due to "falling out of love" with football.

But now, with almost 150,000 followers on TikTok, he runs a successful coaching business and says that he has found a new appreciation for the sport. 

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He said: "Becoming a content creator and making videos has been really fun for me.

"Getting to meet people through football is fantastic, and being able to give players a coach that really cares is something I wanted to do. 

"And that is the whole reason why I started it, to give players more support with their training and connect with them on a deeper level.

"Some of my players who have been with me from the start and stuck with it have now turned into athletes.

"I have a new appreciation for coaching and for the first time in my life there was something that I wanted to do other than be a footballer"

Sam, who is from the West End of Glasgow, had a passion for travelling but professional football prevented him from exploring.

But after taking time away from the pitch and visiting countries such as Peru and Brazil, the 25-year-old described it as an "incredible experience".

He also went on to add that the chance to play in the middle of the Favelas was something that not many people can say they have done and it helped him reconnect with football.

He said: "Travelling was something that always appealed to me, but when you are a pro footballer you don't get much time to do that.

"So, when I stopped playing, this gave me the chance to do that.

"Going to Brazil was incredible and getting to see how talented the lads over there was amazing.

"I was thinking to myself that thousands of children here in Brazil must be overlooked due to the circumstances and that they could play at a very decent level in Scotland. 

"And seeing how happy playing football made them was a brilliant sight.

"I even got the chance to play on an astro pitch in the middle of the Favelas, something that you can't say you get to do very often.

"But also it all made me think about the potential thousands of players that will have been missed or overlooked back in Scotland."

Sam at Machu Picchu in the Cusco region in Peru (Image: Sam Wardrop)

Sam volunteering in Brazil playing football with local kids in the Favelas (Image: Sam Wardrop)

Sam in Brazil (Image: Sam Wardrop)

Sam's TikTok channel - Sam Wardrop - provides players from amateur to professional level with training regimes that will not only improve their fitness but also give them an insight into why footballers do certain drills.

Videos contain information such as what football scouts look for in all positions on the pitch, as well as a series of football sessions that can be done at home. 

Speaking about getting into coaching and why it appealed to him, Sam said: "The stories that stick with me is that going into a new job, with a new way of doing things wasn't easy.

"However, it has been fun overcoming obstacles and to have the platform I do now is something I didn't think about.

"Knowing that there are potential players out there playing football, having watched my videos, is crazy.

"I try and add in things at training that players will find valuable to them, even away from the football pitch, as well as keeping it entertaining."

Sam presenting at a seminar for primary sevens in Glasgow (Image: Sam Wardrop)

Sam will be launching a new player programme on Monday, August 14 on his website as he looks to continue improving his programme.

If you would like to find out more information about the types of programmes he offers, you can visit his website HERE