mii.sportsltd |
Links to other websites:
www.syfforum.tk
www.youngstarsacademy.co.uk
euafc.eusu.ed.ac.uk
www.wlayfc.org/home.html
www.gosoc.co.uk
www.musselburghwindsor.co.uk
www.glasgowcitycup.org.uk
To gain access to the Kodak Picture Gallery you have to sign on, but it costs nothing and you will not be pestered with emails from this company. You can then view all the albums you want to look at. Players are not identified, only games and events. If anyone has a problem accessing the Kodak Picture Gallery email me on mackayian@blueyonder.co.uk and I will email the pictures to those who contact me and who are able to identify themselves.
Ian Mackay can be contacted on mackayian@blueyonder.co.uk or mackay.ian1@googlemail.com
Leith Athletic's wonderful run in the Soccer World Scottish Amateur Cup came to an end in the Falkirk FC stadium last night, when they lost 3-1 in extrat time to Eddlewood Amateurs.
12-year-old Ross Muir beats his 13-year-old pal and fellow Musselburgh Grammar School pupil, Greg Ritchie (13) in a terrific Co-Operative Club Youth Snooker Final in the clubrooms in Fisherrow, the first time this event has taken place. Muir lifted the new trophy when he won 4-2 in the first of what is, for him, a tremendous spell of finals. This talented young snooker player now goes on to play Jamie Stewart (Dumfries) in the final of the Scottish Youth Snooker Association's Under-16 Final in the match-play room at the World of Snooker in Chesser on Saturday, May 17 (7.00pm) and on the following day, Sunday, May 18, Muir and Ritchie face each other again in the final of the Scottish Snooker Association's Under-14 final in the Craigneuk Masters Club in Glasgow. See pictures taken at the Co-Operative Club in Fisherrow by clicking here - http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=6pr9aqgt.2qafgx76x&x=0&y=-ghkhhd
CHEERED on by a large crowd at Meggetland, Craigmount lifted the Lothians Senior cup with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Lasswade, writes Norrie Kerr. Having won the League title the previous week this capped of a magnificent end to this season’s campaign. Goals by Robbie Brown, Cameron Mitchell, Ryan Wilson, Gordon Donaldson and Liam Young (pen) saw off the challenge from a spirited Lasswade team whose goals came from Kenny Cummings and Johnny Kelly (pen). Craigmount were 2-1 down just after the start of the second half and staged a remarkable comeback to win the game. This was a game that went from end to end and saw goals of real quality from both teams. Such a shame there had to be a loser, but Lasswade deserve credit for putting up a tremendous performance. Click here to see Norrie's pictures - http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=6pr9aqgt.2tv7xh815&x=0&y=ofx6zq
Gorgie
Hearts youth side lost 9-6 in extra time by Duns in their second
cup final of the season, writes BOBBY COLLINS. There were a few tears
shed among the players in our team but I reminded them we have
done so well in our first season and we can learn from that defeat?This Friday, myself and Chris
McArthur, the other coach of the youth team are off to the Scottish Parliament to pick up
our awards from Volunteer Scotland for what we have done in the Wester Hailes area, This is
something we are both very proud of and now I think people will recognize and
start to take us seriously when we move to Redhall Star next
season. Our aim is to give the kids of west
IS this fair? Earlier this season an Edinburgh youth football club were fined £400 for an incident involving a referee at a game. One of the people on the disciplinary committee that handed out this punitive fine has now been involved himself in an incident at another game recently. This official who sat in judgment of another club, allegedly, took his team off the pitch in a recent quarter-final cup tie. The game was subsequently abandoned and the matter was dealt with at another disciplinary meeting. The tie was awarded to the club that stayed on the pitch, but officials of the club that took their players off the pitch protested to the national association and the local association were told to recall the case. That was done and the decision to award the tie to the team that stayed on the pitch was repeated, with officials of the club that took their players off the pitch and caused the game to be abandoned told to write letters of apology to the referee who was, again allegedly, subjected to verbal abuse and another to the association. One club were fined £400 while the other club were told to write letters of apology. That is all and no action was taken against the club official who took his team off the pitch and caused the game to be abandoned. Is the person who took his team off the pitch also a member of the local association’s disciplinary committee that handed out a £400 fine to another club? Did the official involved resign (again) as chairman of his club and someone else take his place at the second disciplinary meeting? Is this all true and, indeed, is it fair? Please, can someone confirm or deny these facts for me! I would be interested to hear the whole truth of the matter!
The finals of the Edinburgh Primary Schools Sports Association's Inspector's Cup will be held at Warriston Playing Fields on Tuesday, May 27, starting at 6.30pm. Following the recent sudden death of cup convener, Jim Goodwillie, these finals were put back and they will now go ahead on this night, which will have a special significance to everyone connected with primary schools football. Eight schools will take part in two groups, with the winners and runners-up in each group contesting the semi-finals and then the two winners will go on to play the final with the massive and priceless Inspector's Cup the prize.
SPARTANS FC are looking for girls aged under-15 for new season. Training is on Wednesday nights at inverleith Park. Any girl interested in playing for this excellent football club can get more details by contacting either Paul on 07872012190 or Karen on 0131 539 5123.
*Edinburgh Star YFC are looking for players at the following age groups
for the new season. 1996 - They are looking for players to join their
talented teams and the contact is - Billy on 07738 144597. 1997 -
Contact - Matthew on 07824 396317. 1999 - Contact - Grant on 07841
269702. 2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 - Contact Ian on 07904 683335 . This
is a newly formed club offering good quality coaching and player
development. Their website is www.youngstarsacademy.co.uk with details
online.
*Redhall Star Youth Football Club are looking for kit sponsorship and
companies to get involved with this new community based football club.
Any company interested should contact Bobby@redhallstarfc.co.uk
*Musselburgh Windsor FC are seeking applications from coaches to manage
their Under 15 Squad in Season 2008/09. The current team coach is
having to step down and the Club are looking to locate a suitable coach
who can take the team forward next season. The team is currently
concluding their fixtures have have gained a reputation for playing
good passing football. The squad of boys currently in place are an
excellent group who have the potential to achieve in the years
ahead. Musselburgh Windsor FC is one of the largest and oldest
juvenile clubs in existence. The home grounds are at Pinkie Playing
Fields in Musselburgh which afford the club one of the best training
and playing environments in the country. This is allied to the new
changing facility boasting clubroom, meeting room, kitchen, office and
8 changing rooms, makes the club a very attractive arena for youth
football. Any interested parties should contact the Club
President, Mr. Tim Olton on 0777-183-1763 or email
tim.olton@btinternet.com More information in respect of this great club
can be found at www.musselburghwindsor.co.uk
The Western Region of the Scottish Youth FA are staging their seventh Glasgow Cty Cup youth tournament on the magnificent facilities at Glasgow Green, from Friday, August 8, Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10, with seven age groups in action. This event is well on its way to establishing itself as the premier youth tournament in Scotland and the organisers are looking for entries from east of Scotland clubs. The age groups start at under-13 and go up to under-21s. Clubs can apply to take part on line and all the information is contained in the website www.glasgowcitycup.org.uk This tournament in Glasgow will give clubs an alternative to playing (and paying) to go to events all over Europe in the summer months. The Glasgow City Cup is also officially approved by the SYFA.
The final day at the Festival of Finals at Airdrie and Hutchison Vale under-16s produced the performance of their lives to beat a brilliant Dyce Boys Club 2-1 in the last of the seven finals to grace the Exelsior Stadium. In one of the best finals I have seen in youth club football, the Edinburgh outfit shocked their more fancied opponents in the second half and goals from James Elliot and David Stewart clinched the magnificent Scottish Youth FA's Challenge Cup for Hutchison Vale. The display from both sides will long be remembered by everyone privileged to at the game. This Festival of Finals organised by officials at the SYFA was one of the best, most enjoyable and most exciting I have attended and special mention to Edinburgh-based Chris Dale on his first time as organiser of the Scottish Cups for the SYFA. On congratulating Chris for the undoubted success at Airdrie, he replied (tiredly I thought): "I am just glad is is over!" When he had time to reflect on all that took place over three days at the Excelsior Stadium, Chris will realise just how well he and others did to bring to a wonderful conclusion, this season's Scottish Cup campaigns. It was wonderful, marvellous, exciting, stimulating and enjoyable in every respect. Well done, the Scottish Youth Football Association and how I wish this organisation could be funded directly by politicians in this country of ours. This organisation promotes football within communities all over Scotland they have 40,000 registered players. God alone knows how many others are involved. It must run in to hundreds of thousands and most of them are volunteers. We must be the worst country in Europe when it comes to financing the game within communities and it is the SYFA that should be entrusted with that. Not anyone else. SFA chief executive, Gordon Smith, was at Airdrie on two of the three days and he must have been impressed with everything that took place. Give the SYFA the backing they deserve and let them provide top-class facilities for the kids to play in. If they do that, then I suggest the SFA will get the backing of thousands and thousands of grateful people the length and breadth of Scotland. Give football back to the people who actually care about our kids - and the game of football for social reasons as well. Click here to see more than another 90 pictures from Airdrie on Sunday - http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=6pr9aqgt.2qtyl71zd&x=0&y=toqrwo
Click here http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=6pr9aqgt.k9g6t5zd&x=0&y=-4n1dk to see more than 60 pictures taken at four fabulous cup finals. Tommy Cairns Cup, at Newcraighall where Lothian Thistle beat Breck Hermitage 2-0, the Edinburgh Secondary Schools Under-13 League Cup at Meggetland where Holy Rood beat Leith Academy 2-1. Two more finals at Airdrie, where Leith Athletic came from behind to beat Johnstone Burgh 3-2 in the final of the under-17 SYFA Challenge Cup and that was followed by the under-19 final in which Drumchapel United beat Bonnyton Thistle 2-1 in a game that finished in thunder, lightning and pouring rain. Four fantasitc games full of thrills and excitement and wonderful sportsmanship.East of Scotland Seniors:
Results
10 May 2008.
|
SFA
South Region Challenge Cup
Final |
|||
|
Edinburgh
City |
2 |
3 |
Annan
Athletic |
|
Tyreman
Premier Division |
|||
|
Dalbeattie
Star |
6 |
0 |
Easthouses
Lily |
|
Lothian
Thistle |
1 |
1 |
Preston
Athletic |
|
Whitehill
Welfare |
0 |
2 |
Edinburgh
University |
|
Tyreman
First Division |
|||
|
Berwick
Rangers Res. |
3 |
1 |
Peebles |
|
Civil
Service Strollers |
3 |
1 |
Kelso
United |
|
Eyemouth
United |
1 |
4 |
Gala
Fairydean |
|
Hawick
Royal Albert |
3 |
1 |
Edinburgh
Athletic |
|
Vale of
Leithen |
1 |
0 |
Ormiston |
Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur FA:
May 16: Blaikie Cup Final - Seaforth Highlanders v Edinburgh University Newcraighall KO 6.30pm.
May 17: Edinburgh Central Play Off - Pilton Albion Wdrs v Watt Star
Civil Service Ground. Victory Cup Final - Balerno Ath v Armadale
Ath Saughton Enclosure. Premier Division - Broughton v Blackridge Edin
Academy; Uphall Station v Edin University Craigswood. Lothian West - B
of S Strollers v Balbairdie Vale Edin Academy. Lothian Edinburgh -
Breck Hermitage Albion v Fernieside Seafield; Lothian Thistle v
Tynecastle Star. Edinburgh West - Gorgie Hearts v Dynamo Whitburn Gyle;
Linlithgow Th v Heriot Watt Kerttlestoun Mains. Edinburgh Central Play
Off - Pilton Albion Wdrs v Watt Star Civil Service Ground.
May 19: Premier Division - Penicuik Utd v Blackridge Penicuik. Lothian Edinburgh - Lothian Thistle v St Bernards.
May 23: Challenge Cup Final - Lothian Th v Preston Ath Paties Road KO 6.30pm.
East of Scotland Under-19 League:
BEING favourites to win the under-17 age group of the Scottish Youth FA
Challenge Cup at Airdrie seemed to affect the brilliant young Leith Athletic
squad and it wasn’t until late in the second half before they finally got the
better of a very Johnstone Burgh side in a tremendous final in the Excelsior
Stadium in Airdrie. This was a classical game of football between two good
passing teams and both the Leith and Johnstone outfits were backed on the
terracing with a terrific following from all parts of clubs which have such
strong ties within the respective communities in which their are based. It was a
game full of excitement and tension and that showed among the Leith players in
the first half. Johnstone Burgh were forced to defend their goal in the opening
stages of a game played in lovely weather but the Leith defence were in action
as too, with Liam Rafferty showing up well and the Leith No 5 went on to be one
of the stars of the day in the Leith ranks. Johnstone Burgh cleared a Darren
Lavery net-bound header off the goal-line while Chris McLaughlin was prominent
in raids on the Leith goal. In another tremendous attack on the Johnstone goal,
a Michael Lynch free kick from the left was met at the back post by Johnny
Coleman but his header was again cleared off the line. The game settled and the
quality of passing from both teams was exceptional, with passes to feet and good
movement to the constant roars from the terracing. Leith striker, Jack Combe,
found it hard going against the well-organised and quick tackling Burgh defence
but the Leith No 9 brought out a wonderful save from goalkeeper, Patrick Doherty
when he hammered a volley downward and the ball took a wicked bounce as it
headed for the top right-hand corner of the net - only for Doherty to launch
himself at the ball and deflect it behind for a corner. A wonderful effort from
Combe and an incredible save from Doherty. In another brilliant passing move,
involving Jamie Burstow and Steven Dignan, the ball was again played into Combe
in the 18yd box in front of goal and this gifted young player turned his marker
brilliantly to fire in another great effort that deserved a goal, but Combe’s
shot went just over the bar for a goal kick. Another free kick from Bustow went
ever so close to producing the opener for Leith, then they found themselves 1-0
down against the run of play from a penalty given against Rafferty for using an
arm to control a bouncing ball on the very edge of the 18yd box in the
19th minute. McLaughlin gave Mark Tait no chance from the resultant
spot-kick and that goal acted as a confidence boster to Johnstone Burgh. It
showed in their play and they looked a very good side indeed, with Leith taking
time to get over the shock of going behind. The Capital outfit did regain their
momentum with Dignan causing havoc in the Johnstone goalmouth after a great run
and shot. But Leith had work to do in defence, particularly in a wonderful
passing move from the Burgh outfit, the ball being moved quickly and accurately
in a move that involved John McLister, Sean McInally, Paul McCormick, Steven
Wright then back to McLister who shot over the bar. Leith picked up the pace of
the game after that and they looked much more like themselves as they mounted
several good attacks in a big to get back on level terms. Leith duly got the
goal they thoroughly deserved in the 37th minute, when Combe laid the
ball back in to the path of Lynch who scored with a great shot from 16yd out. At
the end of a tremendous first half of non-stop action and good football, the
score was 1-1 and the exciting atmosphere and friendliness in the stand during
the break did not drop at all - with a Leith supporter going among the
spectators handing out filled rolls. Leith started the second half in impressive
form, wining two free kicks and Burstow saw a good effort hit the top of the bar
and go over for a goal kick. In another raid on the Johnstone Burgh goal, Combe
was knocked over but the very good match referee, William Geekie, was well
placed and play was waved on. In the 6th minute of the second half, Leith went
2-1 down, with the goal coming from another of the very good players on view,
James Penders, sending a great shot past Tait from the right in to the far
corner of the net. The shock waves from losing that goal reverberated around the
terracing at the Leith end of the Excelsior Stadium! It was squeaky-bum time
among the Leith fans but the introduction of substitutes by team boss, Derek
Liddel, turned the game back in favour of the crack outfit from the South East
Region Youth FA. Johnstone Burgh’s defence had performed heroically up until
then, but Leith really turned it on and they they squared the game at 2-2 in the
32nd minute with a wonder goal from substitute, Stuart Lord, who
scored with a header - his first touch of the ball after being coming on -
following a tremendous cross from the right from Jason Stevens. There was only
one team going to win the game after that - Leith Athletic! The took control of
the game with wave after wave of attacks on their opponents' goal. Big Scott
Sime, another of the inspired Leith substitutions was immense in midfield and
his powerful challenges proved vital for Leith. Players were treated for knocks
while others collapsed, suffering from cramp, but nothing was going to stop
Leith winning the cup. Stephen Barrie looked to have been held back in another
surging run in to Johnstone goalmouth, but play was again waved on by the
excellent match official. The winner came in another alll-out attack on the
Johnstone goal, with another quite exceptional cross from the right, deep
towards the far post being headed home brilliantly by Rafferty in a ruck of
players to make it 3-2. It was sheer bedlam after that and the game went in to
time added on and it took a good save from Tait to calm the nerves on the
terracing among the, by then, bouncing Leith contingent and the final whistle
sparked off the most amazing celebrations among the Leith players, their
officials and spectators. Anyone arriving for the next final, the under-19 age
group event between Drumchapel and Bonnyton Thistle, was left in no doubt which
of the two sides had won - Leith Athletic! This was a ‘quality’ final and it was
graced by the presence of SFA Chief Executive, Gordon Smith, once again. The SFA
supremo was at Airdrie on two of the three days the Festival of Finals took
place. SYFA president, Jim Cameron, added his praise to the two teams when he
said: “What a wonderful game of football. This final also illustrated the effect
football teams have on their respective communities in Scotland. Both Leith and
Johnstone Burgh brought huge numbers of fans with them and the feeling of
excitement and enjoyament within the stadium was wonderful!” The washed out,
emotionally, Leith coaches had the biggest smiles on their faces at the finish,
with Derek Liddel sporting the biggest grin of all when he said: “It was a
wonderful second half from our team. It is another great day for Leith
Athletic!“ It was a magnificent day for football as well, thanks to both teams,
their officials and fabulous fans! Last word went to the lovely Elaine Lord,
mother of the scorer of the second goal for Leith, and she summed it up
perfectly when she said: “It was absolute magic!” Leith Athletic - Mark Tait, Antony Marziban (who spent the game wathcing from
the touchlines as he recovered from a serious leg injury), Steven Dignan, Neil
Lowson, Christopher Barrie, Johnny Coleman, James Robson, Jason Stevens, Jack
Combe, George Gibson, Stuart Lord, Steven Philp, Scott Sime, Darren Lavery,
Stephen Barrie, Liam Rafferty, Michael Lynch, Jamie Burstow. Johnstone Burgh - Patrick Doherty, Aidan Thomson, Jordan Agnew, Stuart
McCann, Sean McInally, John Hutchison, John McLister, Chris McLaughlin, Stephen
Wright, Paul McCormick, James Penders, Mark Priess, David Cunningham,
Anthony Hopkins, Steven Dickie. Referee - William Geekie. And if that was a
brilliant game, then read the report of Hutchison Vale's 2-1 win
against Dyce in the under-16 final that marked the end of the Festival
of Finals in the Excelsior Stadium. That will appear in the Evening
News along with short reports of the other finals that took place
in Airdrie.
THE Tommy Cairns Memorial Cup may not be the most prestigious event in the Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur FA, but the final between Lothian Thistle and Breck Hermitage at Newcraighall Park was one of the best this season in the biggest amateur set-up in Scotland. Part of the reason why it was such a good, enjoyable and sporting game was down to the attitude of the players taking part, but the lovely maintained pitch belonging to Newcraighall Leith Vics was also a contributory factor to this being such a good game. The playing surface of the huge pitch at Newcraighall Park was just about perfect on a rainy night in east Edinburgh, perfect for passing football and both teams responded in the most positive way possible, playing great football from start to finish. It was virually a ‘walk in the park’ for match referee, Gary McKenzie and his two assistants, Stuart Richardson and Campbell Duncan. Lothian Thistle were the better side in this game and they, deservedly, went on to win the silverware with two second half goals from Dean Walker. The very alert and quick moving Thistle No 9 finally managed to break through a very resolute Breck rearguard in the 57th minute, running with the ball from the halfway line and then finishing off with a brilliant strike past inspired Breck keeper, Ross French. Walker scored again when he showed brilliant opportunist to rob a Breck defender of the ball before lashing a shot past French just inside the right-hand post to make it 2-0. The Hermitage combine, literally, played out of their skins in this game while French had a game he will likely look back on with fond memories for the rest of his life. Some of the saves from the Breck goalkeeper in the first half was quite magnificent and it was he who kept the scoreline blank at the half-way stage of a final that attracted a very good crowd to Newcraighall Park. Not only fans of both clubs, but people with a deep interest in amateur football, including the amazing Gordon Hall, a retired head teacher who spends a great part of his retirement going around games in both Scotland and other parts of the UK, including nearly every non-league club stadium in England. Such is the former school master's love for football and he enthused at the quality of the Tommy Cairns final along with everyone else at Newcraighall Park. Breck matched Lothian Thistle in every respect in a cracker of a first half, but Thistle always looked capable of scoring while Breck did not have anyone up front who could stick the ball in the back of the net. In the opening stages it was only the brilliance and daring of French that kept Lothian from taking an early lead. Thistle did go close to opening their account when Chris Inglis cracked a shot off a post, while a long-range effort from the winner of the man-of-the-match award, David Brown, hammered a long-range effort just over the Lothian Thistle crossbar. French performed brilliantly to block a tremendous header from Kevin Swinton and, at the other end, another cracking effort from Steve Frampton went just wide. Walker was the danger man for Lothian Thistle when they went on the attack and they had the bulk of the play in the first half, but a combination of good goalkeeping from French and bad luck ensured the sides were locked at 0-0 at the halfway stage of a very entertaining final. Newcraighall Leith Vics official, the very respected Kevin Miller was at the game to ensure everything went well, a truly wonderful and appreciated gesture by the Vics club leader, even more so considering he was still mourning the loss of his mother last week. In the second half of a game played in the gloaming as the light faded, it was Lothian Thistle that went on to clinch their first trophy of the season with Walker’s two excellent goals separating the teams at the finish. L&EAFA secretary, David Ramage, speaking prior to the presentation of the cup and individual trophies, complimented both sides on their displays, saying: “This has been a tremendous advert for amateur football and I want to thank both teams for making it such a good game. The quality of football played was exceptional and it was also played in a great spirit with excellent sportsmanship as well! I don‘t think there was one bad tackle throughout the entire game!” Even the presentation was conducted in a lovely atmosphere, with both sides mixing well and applauding each other when the medals and cup were handed over. It was a great night for everyone then in Newcraighall Public Park and there is more to come, with Mr Ramage adding: “It is very helpful for the association to have the use of this venue belonging to one of our member clubs. It is a super venue for cup finals and it will be used again for the Blaikie Cup final on Friday, May 16, with another wonderful game in prospect between Seaforth Highlanders and Edinburgh University." The kick-off is at 6.30pm and these two sides met at Roseburn last year in what is still considered to be one of the best amateur games for years. That is not surprising, considering both sides are famed for their positive attitude to the game and they also play good passing football.
Breck Hermitage - Ross French, David Brown, Scott Ross, Brian Anderson, David Aitken, Michael Carse, Andrew Stirling, Michael Laidlaw, Steven Frampton, Chris Welsh, Andy Webb, Gordon Allan, Murray Wright, Keith Miller, Mark Cassidy, Ryan Weir.
Lothian Thistle - Andy Leask, Terry Smith, Damon Otway, Jamie Mitchell, Billy Duncan, Paul Taylor, Chris Aitken, Kevin Swinton, Dean Walker, Chris Malone, Craig Yardley, Craig McIntosh, Stuart Smith, Darren Rae, Michael Smith, Steven Smith.
Referee - Gary McKenzie.