AYR UNITED WIN THE SCOTTISH CUP!!!
by Marc RosebladeWell, nice sentiment but not exactly the truth in the truest form.
Ayr United Football Academy did win the Scottish Cup, sadly though, only for a day.
The SFA recently ran a contest to win the Scottish Cup for a day. One of the Academy volunteers entered and duly won it, the rest of course is history as the Cup winged its way down the M77 for a photo shoot with the AUFA players last Thursday night at Belmont Academy.
Most players from the Academy got themselves involved in getting up close and personal with the cup, after all its not every day you get yourself next to the oldest footballing trophy on the planet, and with much excitement surrounding the romance of this famous old trophy, everyone wanted to touch it and look for winning teams etched on its silvery stature.
The girls 11′s and 13′s sides were involved first and the players must have felt like it was a red carpet event as hoards of photo hungry parents filled the room to get shots of their daughters with the trophy. In some aspects, the parents appeared more overawed by the cup than the players did, maybe its an age thing but it did hold peoples attention for quite a while.
The 14′s also turned up for their shoot, kitted out in their AUFA refinery for a mock ‘We are the Champions of Scotland’ shot, hopefully with this memory, they can forge on and one day become the real champs of Scotland, holding the cup aloft at a packed Hampden park in front of 53,000 adoring fans.
The 15′s, fresh from training, also took the opportunity to sit aside the cup and the moment wasn’t lost on them as the silvery glow from the shiny trophy disappeared amongst a group of boys swarming round it like bees round honey all trying to find who won the cup the year they were born.
The 16′s who had a match that night also took part, posing like professionals in the aftermath of a glorious Scottish Cup victory, fixing their hair before the cameras started clicking away to capture a superb moment on celluloid that will forever live in their memories.
It was a night not to forget and with the images now stored in the photobanks of many computers worldwide, the night will always be remembered as the day that Ayr United players won and lifted the Scottish Cup.
Thanks go out to the SFA for allowing us this opportunity. Thanks also to (in no particular order) Ayr Advertiser, Ayrshire Post and Graeme Pollock Photography.
Holiday Programme a Roaring Success
The roars of delight could be heard all over Ayr as the young players who got themselves involved with Ayr United Football Academy annual October Holiday Programme kicked off in earnest during the school holidays and it wasn’t just the parents’ delight that could be heard!
For three days all the kids really enjoyed the different drills and fun games they received from the AUFA community coaches at Pro Soccer complex in Ayr.
Craig Richmond, Football Development Administrator for AUFC and AUFA said, “There were a lot of talented youths showing off their skills during the three days.”
“We also had the girls side from the Academy here and they looked to have had a great time working with me on different drills and lots of game related practices as it was part of their training camp as well as a holiday camp.”
Kids from the age of 3 were involved over the three day camp and looks to be more popular than ever as the Academy goes from strength to strength.
The Academy also has its Term Time Programme which runs from October to December taking place. Spaces are still available, see the Community page for information.
Pro Youth News
by Marc RosebladeDue mainly to the October School holidays, most pro youth teams had a week off last weekend but all returned on Sunday and were back with a vengeance as some of the scorelines confirm.
The 19's hosted East Fife at Troon Juniors ground, Portland Park, and for anyone that travelled to watch, it was an afternoon to savour as the home sides’ players ran riot over their visiting opponents.
Ayr started the game on top, creating a few opportunities in the opening skirmishes with most coming from Roddy Paterson whose pace was getting him in behind the East Fife defence. He had three one on ones with the keeper but failed to score on any of these occasions.
The opening goal came in 20 minutes when Paterson scored from close range with further first half goals being added by Aaron Connolly and Stuart Milligan.
The second half was somewhat of a procession with an additional four goals being added from Milligan who scored his second and Connolly who secured himself a second half hat trick to take his tally for the game to four.
The 17's continued their fabulous league form and are now 9 games unbeaten and sit proudly atop their respective league. Goals from Scott Aitken and two from recent goal scoring machine, Deci MilliganBerwick Rangers 3-0.
Neil Duffy's 15' quietly go about their business as they, like the 17s are unbeaten this year in league football and despite a sidelined top scorer, Ryan Nisbet, still managed a couple of goals from Steven McCarrison and Mick Ahern. This side had gone three weeks without a match due to the holidays but with James Hart returning in goal and Andy Willock returning to the midfield after injury, the boys proved they had the stomach for the match and kept up their unbeaten run.
The 14's had an unexpected surprise on their away day to Arbroath after their venue was switched at the last minute which enabled the young stars to play at Arbroath's Gayfield stadium. This must have inspired the players as goals from Roy Barr, Sean McKenzie and another from Aiden Conner kept up Gary Gibb's young players excellent record this season.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available within the Academy with all proceeds going to help these young stars progress their playing capabilities and hopefully become the Ayr United players of the future. Details can be found at www.aufa.org.uk or visit the AUFA Facebook site for links.
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