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!

Pupils in first year recently sat a series of formal examinations in the assembly hall to form an overview of their progress throughout first year. Staff are now busy marking papers and preparing parental reports.

Pupils in fourth year have already started their Scottish Qualification Authority Examinations and are therefore on study leave from school. Pupils in upper school are just about to begin their examinations and will start study leave on 7 May.

S5 Geography pupils at Braidhurst High School recently visited Glasgow city as part of their Higher Geography course. Pupils visited several sites around Glasgow city Centre including the Merchant city and River Clyde to learn about new developments and urban changes that had taken place. The pupils are about to embark on their SQA examines. All the staff at Braidhrust wish them the very best of luck!