Q&A with ScottishDex

My name is ScottishDex, and I’m the owner and writer behind voidspark.org

So, what’s the story?

The original idea was called the coachingcolumn.net was born out of my own early struggles in coaching. When I first developed an interest in the field, quality ideas and usable material weren’t as easy to find as they are now. Everything felt scattered — buried across the internet without clear structure, direction, or credible signposting.

So I decided to change that.

At the time, platforms like Tumblr and Twitter were cutting edge, and I used them to start capturing spontaneous ideas from my head, alongside things I’d tried in sessions, seen from other coaches, or simply observed. Over time, the posts started to gain traction, and I received feedback from people saying how helpful it all was. That gave me the motivation to make it more official — and so The Coaching Column was born.

You mentioned coaching?

One of my earliest memories of being drawn to football management was during Rangers' European Cup run in the 1992/93 season. I remember trying to predict substitutions, formation tweaks, and tactical shifts. Around the same time, Championship Manager was at its peak — and being a football lover and a bit of a computer geek, it just clicked.

Later, I decided to immerse myself in amateur football to understand the environment firsthand — different personalities, different levels, and most importantly, the view from the sidelines. During that journey, I met some brilliant people, coaches who simply loved the game.

Eventually, though, my time came to an end when I found out the team manager had been “borrowing” content straight from Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography. That’s when I knew I needed a break.

A turning point?

Yes — and a positive one. I was lucky enough to get an insight into Glasgow City Ladies thanks to the brilliant Amy McDonald. She was running an apprenticeship-style scheme aimed at developing future coaches. That experience made me fall in love with coaching all over again.

It inspired me to dedicate even more time to learning the craft — exploring the technical, tactical, and psychological layers that make football such an endlessly fascinating game.

Coaching idols?

Johan Cruyff has always stood out. A wonderful player, coach, and human being. I’m not old enough to have watched him live, but I’ve done my reading. What I admired most was his belief in teams having their own identity — to entertain, to prioritize technique, and to foster love for the game, not just chase commercial success.

One of his quotes sums it up best:

“Simple football is the most beautiful. But playing simple football is the hardest thing.”

What’s next for the blog?

Well as you can see it has a new name and new features, expanded beyond coaching since my retirement. Honestly — just more of what I love: writing. I’ll keep sharing ideas whenever they come to mind. Some posts will fly, others will flop. That’s the nature of it.

A few additions have really added depth — like the personal blog section, which brings a more human element, and the fantastic Q&As with a variety of voices in the football world. There’s always something to learn.

The goal has never changed: to inspire, to share, and to contribute something meaningful to coaching conversations.