Braidhurst High School recently hosted a meeting with Motherwell FC and performance development staff from the Scottish FA to review the unique project underway with the school. Motherwell FC representatives Gordon Young, Director of Youth Development, Head of Children’s Section Paul Burns along with Manager Stuart McCall met with Neil Mackintosh Scottish FA Performance Development Manager and Mark Wotte the Scottish FA Performance Director with Rector Derrick Hannan representing the school.

Braidhurst High has been a Scottish FA School of Football for the past five years and was invited to be one of only seven Scottish FA Performance Schools of Football last year. The performance section draws pupils from throughout Lanarkshire and beyond, having been selected by the Scottish FA in consultation with professional club youth development staff. These young players received a football training session each day from Scottish FA coach Gordon Craig using the superb facilities within the school.

Motherwell FC coach Paul Burns delivers sessions to all year groups selected through the well established, School of Football initiative. Rector Mr Derrick Hannan said, “I was very proud and delighted to host this meeting. It offered us the opportunity to showcase this unique partnership arrangement in terms of youth football development. The local club has formed a mutually beneficial link with the school allowing them to access the first class facilities recently provided thanks to North Lanarkshire Council who have driven the partnership agreement. The facilities are now used by the club every evening as well as weekends for games ensuring that the money spent by the council is fully utilised. I really feel that the model we have jointly developed is a blueprint for football development in this country. The input and support as well as strategic direction by the Scottish FA has also to be recognised. It has been exciting times for everyone involved. For the players attending the school as well as the Motherwell FC youth players this provides them with the very best by way of facilities and extremely high quality coaching. I have been so impressed by the quality of coaching from Paul Burns, Gordon Craig and also the considerable team of Motherwell FC staff in charge of their Youth Academy. This can only be good for the long term future of the local club and football in general”

Motherwell Football Club Academy Director reiterated that the benefit to all parties in the partnership, MFC, NLC, SFA and Braidhurst High school is clear for all to see and with everyone benefiting from what is stage 1 of a multi-phase opportunity. The inroads which have been made in short a time is testimony to the hard work and vision of all involved.

Braidhurst High was recently delighted to learn that three fourth year pupils had interceded to support an elderly gentleman in great distress. The three pupils Emma Currie, Danielle Pritchard and Andrew McCreadie were alert when they noticed a gentleman, Mr Foy, collapse and fall in Bellshill Road near the school. Their swift action in ensuring his safety then delivering first aid and contacting an ambulance certainly was greatly appreciated. Mr Foy and his wife recently visited the school to personally thank the pupils for their action. Mr Foy said, “Without their care and attention as well as contacting an ambulance I shudder to think where I would be today. They are an absolute credit to their school”.

Trials recently took place for the August intake to other Scottish FA School of Football based in Braidhurst High. A team of experienced Scottish FA coaches led by Steven Hamilton and Andy Smith put approximately 50 prospective players through their paces in glorious sunshine. The primary seven pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Prior to the trials the pupils and their parents attended an information evening and also underwent an interview with a member of staff. The selection process resulted in twenty pupils being selected for the scheme and the school looked forward to them joining after the summer break.

Pupils in S1, S2 and S3 attended an assembly this week to receive information from the Glasgow 2018 Youth Olympic team. Pupils were treated to a 20 minute presentation to encourage support for the 2018 Glasgow bid. With the announcement of the host city due in July of this year, pupils took the opportunity to back the bid and ask the team questions.

Several sporting venues including Ravenscraig and Strathclyde Park will be used if Glasgow is successful, so pupils will have the chance to attend and support at events with some pupils aspiring to take part in the Olympic Youth Games in 2018.

Braidhurst 4 Trinity 1

After the heroics of the Scottish Shield earlier in the week, the Braidy boys made it into the quarter finals of the Lanarkshire Cup in far less dramatic circumstances with a routine 4-1 victory over Trinity. First half goals from Darren Wilson and a cracker from Dylan Falconer were followed by a final strike from Ross Beattie after a magnificent through ball from the excellent Dylan McCreath.

The boys now face the strong Our Lady’s HS from Cumbernauld in a repeat of last year’s final.

St Andrews & St Brides 2 Braidhurst (Under 14’s) 3

Braidhurst scraped through to the semi finals in the defence of their Scottish Shield and now face Peter the Apostle on 7 May at the Vale of Clyde ground in Tollcross, Glasgow.

The game started evenly with Braidhurst, through the prompting of Hastie and Mullen in midfield, beginning to take control of the game. After a couple of near misses, Braidhurst were awarded their first big chance of the game when Thomas Smart was barded off the ball inside the box. Hastie’s well placed penalty was sensationally saved by the excellent home keeper.

Both sides had chances but the score remained 0-0 when the halftime whistle blew.

The second half started at an even quicker pace and it was the home side who took the lead after a goalmouth stramash following a corner from the right. The Braidhurst boys knew they had to get back into the game quickly and began to press. This possession paid off when Ryan Watt turned two defenders before finally beating the keeper with a low strike.

The home side then took the lead to make it 2-1 with only minutes on the clock and then almost scored again with Ross Wilson clearing off the line. The Braidy boys now threw everything into attack and the pressure paid off with Deryn Lang equalising and forcing the inevitable penalty shoot out.

The bold Derrick Boafour had other ideas. On as a sub and with the referee glancing at his watch and about to blow for full time, the tricky winger slalomed his way through a series of tackles before slotting the ball past the keeper to make it 3-2. A new Braidhurst hero was born!