Technophobe Earns a Scottish Football Contract Because of His YouTube Video

There is a lot of talk these days about the YouTube generation, the fact that a three minute video on the world’s leading video hosting site can transform minds, make opinions and change lives. And so it has proved for relatively unknown footballer Martyn Lancaster, who has managed to earn a six-month contract to play for Queen of the South in the Scottish First Division.

Until the end of last year 28-year-old, British born Martyn Lancaster was plying his trade for the Atlanta Silverbacks—an American professional soccer team playing in the USL First Division, the second tier of the American Soccer pyramid. But then in November the club went bust, leaving the 17-man squad all unemployed.

Playing up to the maxim that behind every good man is a good woman, Lancaster’s wife Mysti took it upon herself to put her husband back on the market, compiling a 10-minute YouTube video showing her hubby at work. And against all the odds the video was seen by Scottish agent Jake Duncan who showed it to a number of clubs.

(I say “against all the odds” because at the time of writing, YouTube has registered only 533 views of the video.)

One thing lead to another, and not before long Lancaster had a trial at Queen of the South, managing to prove his worth to receive a short term contract, with the centre half making his debut against Falkirk in last week’s Scottish Cup defeat.

The Daily Record spoke to Lancaster to get his reaction on the remarkable turn of events.

Lancaster: “I was without a team and had a couple of offers in the States but I missed British football. I missed the passion and wanted to get back to that. The problem was I had been forgotten about by anyone who had known me. So that’s when the YouTube thing came about.

"I couldn’t even log on to a computer or do anything else but my wife put the package of me together and then posted it. So it’s all her fault. The reaction was immediate and incredible. I didn’t think much would come from it but within a week I was in Scotland.”

Hovering just above the relegation zone in 8th place in the 10-team league, and with a distinct lack of financial resources, Queen of the South seem to be taking a calculated guess on Lancaster.

Martyn Lancaster’s YouTube video can be seen here.