AUFA, Under Starters Orders

Woof, the summer is barely even over and we have seen plenty of Academy football action so far in the past few weeks since the youth season finished.

It seems like an eternity ago that the under 17's were paraded around Somerset Park holding aloft the Scottish Football League trophy that now nestles proudly amongst the Ayr United trophy cabinet, and being the newest addition to the silverware, it takes pride of place, centre stage, for any visiting dignitaries to view when entering the Somerset Park boardroom.

Since breaking up at the end of last season, the football Academy has not stood still seeing a flurry of professional contract signings and first team call ups.

The Professionals

The end of May saw the first couple of players to make the step up to the senior ranks with striker Dale Moore and defender Iain Fisher being invited into Somerset Park to sign their well deserved professional football contracts.

Under the watchful eyes of both the players fathers, the players were delighted to be signing on the dotted line, achieving their boyhood dreams of playing for the football club they have supported since they were nippers.

Davie White, head of youth for Ayr United stated:"Both players have served their apprenticeship with the under 19's squad, the AUFC reserve side and also spent some time playing out on loan to local junior sides. Both players have handed the pressure placed upon them this season and have now been rewarded accordingly."

Next up for signing his professional contract was young 15 year old Mark Shankland who had been courted by Liverpool, Rangers and Celtic.

The young man decided to prolong his career at his home club signing a two year contract that also sees him starting a college course when the semester starts in the Autumn.

With Ayr United chairman Lachlan Cameron returning from Los Angeles especially to be in attendance for the future star's signing, the player was delighted to have signed for club saying:"One of the reasons for staying here at Ayr is the coaching setup. The coaches have been brilliant with me and advised me that should I go to one of the Old Firm Clubs, I might fall into the cracks at a club that size and then lose my chance. The fact they have also helped me enter into the Sports and Fitness (football) college course, makes my reason for staying all the more justified."

Mark was of course lucky enough to get some Senior team pitch time near the end of last season's campaign and he didn't look out of place up against older more experienced players.

The future looks bright for all three of these players and we shall look forward to seeing more of them in the near future.

This Season

We have already seen the benefits of the Football Academy setup this season with several first team opportunities in Ayr United's pre season friendlies for some of the up and coming stars of the future.

It's ironic that in a match against a Manchester United XI team that will presumably field mostly youth players, that we talk about the Ayr United youth players that have already sparkled this season without a competitive ball being kicked.

If you speak to under 19 coach Stevie McMillan, you would hear endless superlatives about a young man that knows his way to goal, scoring an incredible 35 goals for the under 19 side last season.

If you have been to Somerset Park this season for a glimpse of the new team, you will of course know we are talking about Roddy Paterson, the recently turned 19 year old who scored the only goal of the game against SPL side St Mirren and also hit the crossbar with another effort. On a day that had seen Gary Teale return to Ayr, it was the youngster that stole the show and took the plaudits, and rightly so!

We will be hoping for big things from Roddy this season and with his eye for goal, hopefully plenty of net bulging shots that we can cheer.

Defender Gareth Armstrong has slipped under the radar and into the Ayr squad this season as well, performing admirably in the pre season matches without fuss, getting the job in hand completed like a pro. Much is made of the goal scoring antics at football clubs that sometimes defenders get forgotten about but Gareth's performances so far has shown his ability to blend in and adapt to a faster more physical game than he is used to with the under 19 squad and if he keeps this level of play up, he will surely become the next Jonathan Tiffoney.

Another player that is little known with the Ayr United faithful has been midfielder Cammy Marlow, who like Gareth Armstrong has slipped into the squad almost unnoticed by the Ayr United supporters such is the ability and technique of the player.

This ability to move into the senior squad without hesitation has saw the 16 year old blend well with the other players, making it almost believable that he has played in this role all of his life. Cammy has been deployed in the left hand side of midfield for the senior squad in the pre season friendlies showing his willingness and strength as he pushes for a regular squad place for the upcoming season. Good left sided players are always hard to come by so Cammy may be a gem in the making.

Unfortunately for Mark Shankland he has been injured for the start of the season and has been unable to be available for selection so far but his time will come this year. It's a shame for the young man as he has been not been able to show off his new suit that he purchased for squad trips!

Academy Success

This promises to be another successful year for Ayr United Football Academy as they try and build on last years successes. From the under 17 side winning the Scottish Football League and also the girls under 13's side winning their respective league that saw them promoted into the A division. Both achievements will be hard to emulate but one I am sure they will be hoping to surpass.