A planning meeting was recently held in the school to prepare for the next intake of pupils to the School of Football initiative. The scheme has been successfully running in Braidhurst High over the past six years and the meeting took place to plan for the next three year period. Government money from the Cashback Scheme allows twenty pupils each year to receive a football session each day delivered by a fully qualified SFA coach. The meeting was attended by Andy Gilchrist and Jimmy Bone from the SFA, Scott Leitch head of the Motherwell FC Youth Academy with the school represented by David Gardiner, Principal Teacher of Physical Education and the Rector Mr Derrick Hannan. Mr Hannan commented, “This scheme has been a fantastic success and we can confidently look forward to the selection process for the next intake. The coach is Paul Burns, Head of Children for Motherwell FC. He has been doing a first class job working in the school. If anyone wishes further information then they can contact me at the school”.

The first year group of pupils who joined the school last August through the Scottish FA Performance School of Football initiative, recently spent a day visiting English Premiership club Newcastle United. The coach for the group Gordon Craig, who has been in the game for over 20 years, made the connection through a friendship built up with former Scottish Internationalist Willie Donachie. The group travelled down to Newcastle by coach having set off early from the school and were met by former England Internationalist Peter Beardsley. He took the squad of players and coaches on a tour of the Newcastle United stadium prior to playing a game against a Newcastle United Youth Academy squad in their impressive indoor complex. The focus on the day was to see first-hand how a top Premiership club operates. The game itself resulted in the club extending an ongoing invitation to Braidhurst for future groups to have similar visits.

The coach Gordon Craig said, “This was a great learning curve for our young players not only to play against top opposition but to experience travelling as a squad and socialising away from the school environment. They were a real credit in the way they conducted themselves representing their school, club and the Scottish FA. It was a long day for the youngsters but these opportunities only come up occasionally and they grabbed the chance with both hands. Peter Beardsley commented on how impressed he was with the pupils’ confidence, charter and ability”.

The Rector Derrick Hannan said, “This was a really worthwhile day and excellent addition to our programme. Their discipline was a great credit to the excellent work done as part of the programme as well as that of their clubs. The combination of daily coaching at school and the work at club level is having a real impact”.

Braidhurst 5 Largs Academy 1

Braidhurst under 15s moved into the last 8 of the Scottish Shield after a fine display against a well organised Largs team.

The game started off with both teams sizing each other up, which saw the majority of the play taking place in midfield. The home team finally broke the dead lock after some fine play by Jake Hastie which led to him darting into the Largs’ penalty box only for him to be brought down. The same player picked himself up and calmly slotted home the awarded spot kick.

Braidhurst were missing two of their regulars in defence due to injuries but their replacements, Dillon McCreath at centre half and Darren Wilson at right back slotted in well keeping the Largs strike force at bay.

The Scottish Shield holders soon doubled their lead when Ryan Watt played a high ball over the defence which the goal keeper fumbled and dropped right at the feet of Watt who had followed in behind the ball giving him an easy finish.

Largs Academy started to come more into the game and were causing problems for Braidhurst in the middle of the park. To try and counter this the home team switched formation to the classic 4-4-2 with Ryan Watt and the lethal Dylan Falconer leading the line. As Braidhurst were settling into the new structure Largs managed to find the breakthrough they were looking for and just on the stroke of half-time they made it 2-1.

The second half saw Braidhurst starting to look surer of themselves and soon settled into their trade mark passing moves, one of which saw a ball knocked through to Falconer. Despite the Largs’ defender having a three metre start on him, Falconer’s amazing pace soon saw him pass the defender before he cracked the ball low and hard into the keeper’s right hand corner restoring the home side’s two goal advantage.

From this point on Braidhurst were never troubled and Falconer soon doubled his own tally with an impressive diving header from a Jake Hastie corner.

With the game in its dying moments the unlucky Largs keeper spilled a long range shot which Nick Mullen raced onto and helped himself to a goal and seal Braidhurst’s place in the Quarter-finals.

Pupils from Braidhurst High School and five other NLC secondary schools recently returned from an adventurous week at the Outward Bound Centre at Loch Eil, in the Highlands. The pupils were able to take part in a number of outdoor pursuits during their week away including raft building, canoeing, rock climbing and hill walking. Each of the enjoyable activities allowed individual pupils to improve their self-confidence and communication skills. The pupils had a wonderful time and all were able to successfully achieve the Outward Bound Trust’s Adventure and Challenge Award (SCQF level 5) in addition to the John Muir Discovery Award. All pupils agreed that despite the cold, wet weather they had thoroughly enjoyed their experience.

A group of 7 pupils were accepted for the North Lanarkshire Creative Residency in June 2013.   Their work has now been framed and exhibited in the Creative Residency Exhibition, which is held in Summerlee Museum, Coatbridge from Friday 25^th January till Sunday 24^th February (10 am – 4 pm).   Admission Free.

The Art and Design pupils studied in workshops ranging from Digital Photography through Film Making to Fine Art.

The exhibition opening was a roaring success and the staff, pupils and parents all thoroughly enjoyed seeing the work on display.

Some 40 pupils from first year, who take part in the School of Football initiatives running within the school, recently attended the Toryglen facility in Glasgow to assist coaches undertaking their Advanced Children’s Licence with the Scottish FA.   Reports on their performance and conduct were superb.   Donald Gillies of the Scottish FA commented, “I had the pleasure of working with your pupils and they were outstanding in both ability and attitude.   They really represented the school very well”.

The school recently took charge of an upgraded facility within the school for beauty therapy.   The state of the art facility allows pupils to study hairdressing, beauty therapy and massage within the school.   A college lecturer from New Lanarkshire College is in charge of delivering what is likely to prove to very popular addition to the curriculum on offer.