Calderbraes Football Club are to host a football festival as part of their pre-season which boasts an exciting mix of football and funfair attractions. The event, which takes place on Saturday the 8th of August, will see three different age groups participating with a number of local teams getting involved in the festivities.

Historically the festival used to take place every year but this has not happened for many years now. However this is the second year in a row that the club will host the event after the 2006s team decided to host the festival for their own age group last year. This year it has been expanded to include multiple age groups, with a number of clubs from the Central Region entering teams.

A massive amount of organisation has gone into the festival to ensure that the planning transfers smoothly into the running of the event. Stephen McCrory of the 2006s  team has been the most prominent figure in organising the event, although all coaches from all age groups are getting involved, either by helping with the planning or by volunteering to help run the event on the day. 

This proves to be a reflection of Calderbraes’ efforts to have a real club presence on the day through coaches and committee members, as well as players and parents.

Not only will this year see more age groups participating in the football but there will be additional attractions such as candy floss and popcorn stalls as well as inflatables, which were rained off last year. This year covers have been ordered to ensure that the inflatables can be used in any weather, and they are hopeful that the other teams participating will bring along family and friends to enjoy the use of these attractions as well as support the football on the day.

Calderbraes FC believe that these sort of events are incredibly important for the club and the local community, and see the event as being vital in getting out there and being seen to do the right things and stand for the rights principles. In this way, the club can become a staple part of the community, something that the players of all age groups are proud to be a part of while the community offer their support in return. It is also important in helping the club to fulfil their aim of expansion, particularly if it becomes the annual event for everyone to look forward to that they are hoping for.

With that said, Calderbraes are already looking ahead to next year, hoping to add even more age groups and to add even more activities and attractions for everyone to enjoy.

The club would like to thank PSL Team Sports who are sponsoring the event as well as the team. They would also like to thank all the participating teams for their support and for making the festival possible.

The Calberbraes Football Festival, which will take place at Hamilton Palace Sports Ground on Saturday the 8th of August, is sure to be a fantastic day out for all who attend. With the football kicking off at 9.00am, there will be no shortage of entertainment with the fixtures continuing through to 5.15pm, and the inflatable fun zone running throughout the day. 

Craigpark Colts 2002 had a season to remember last year, going the whole year unbeaten in the league, in their first season as an 11-a-side team.

The season started with a mini seven-a-side league between the teams in the Central Scotland FA league to determine A & B leagues. This saw the Colts go into the B division, where they won 21 games and drew three.

The side scored 133 goals and conceded only 21, gaining them promotion to the A League. 

As well as reaching round two of the Regional Cup and round three of the Scottish Cup, the boys triumphed in the B League Cup, beating West Park 4-1 in the final at Ochilview Park, home of Stenhousemuir FC.

Chairman Jason Todd was delighted with last season's performance and is now hoping to build on the year.

"Having gained promotion to the A League, we are aiming for a top six finish," he said.

"We would also like to have a good run in the Scottish Cup, and hopefully have an away game with a Highland team or a team from the East, as it would be a great experience for the players."

The team will be looking to do this under the guidance of a new fitness coach who has been brought in "to develop the players as a team and individually enhance their performances."

They have also been preparing for pre-season with a football festival, that saw them miss out on the final by one goal. 

However, Todd does think this could be a tough year for the side. When asked about any signings made, he revealed that the club "have lost a few players to the pro youth set up."

"As we are a single team and not part of a club with teams at all groups we find it difficult to attract players locally from where we are in Airdrie."

But the team are still confident they can do some damage, especially over Kilsyth BC. Todd asked the boys who they would consider to be their main rivals, and the unanimous decision was Kilsyth. "They beat us last season to knock us out of the Open Cup," Todd said. 

Good luck to Craigpark Colts over the course of the 2015/16 season!

As the season comes to a close, many teams would look forward to a break and the opportunity to unwind after a strenuous league campaign. This was not the case for Central Girls Football Academy, however, after they decided to take a team to the States in search of fresh footballing opposition to challenge themselves against.  

Inviting players from three different age groups to take part in the trip, Central Girls submitted a team in the under-16s category of the Mid Atlantic Cup, which took place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Central Girls FA coach Ian Dibdin reinforced the decision to take a team across the world by stating his belief in the value of tournament football. "At Central I’m a great believer in tournaments. We want our teams to go to tournaments and experience events elsewhere rather than close down during the summer," he told Youth Football Scotland.

Dibdin also saw the value of a post-season trip in maintaining team morale and widening the team’s experience.

"We want to keep playing football. It’s crucial for player retention. If you’re having a good time, then you don't want to leave. More than half of the team hadn’t been to America before. Inevitably it widens people’s horizons," he said.

Beginning the trip in Philadelphia, Central Girls also took the opportunity to meet up with old friends. Maryland Rush were the opponents for Central Girls Football Academy in the Puma Cup Final in Liverpool in 2014 and the teams have since maintained a connection. Following a friendly with the American side, Central Girls competed in the Mid Atlantic Cup before visiting Annapolis in Maryland, Washington DC and finally New York.

Playing six games throughout the whole of their American tour, the girls won two and lost four with some positive performances and results in the Mid Atlantic cup such as a 3-2 victory over New York based team Merrick Rush. Ian felt this was a chance for the girls to test themselves in a different environment.

"At the end of the day, they're the strongest country in the world as far as football goes. We knew we were going to a strong area," Dibdin said. "We were going to a ranked tournament. We went in at the highest level which is Championship level. We wanted to see what it was about.

"I wanted our players to realise that football goes beyond Scotland. We’ve got teams in the world that would easily compete with Glasgow City and Arsenal. We have to be there. We hope to eventually reach that level but until you see it, you don’t know what you're trying to achieve. That’s the reason for the tournaments."

The players are also actively encouraged to reflect on where they want to go with their football career. With university and college coaches attending tournaments such as the Mid Atlantic Cup, it is important for the players the opportunity to consider that avenue.

"It’s something that I actively encourage all of our players. We have some super players that were over there and without a doubt, they attracted the attention of the coaches. I’m not one of these coaches that is protective of their players. It’s a case of, if they want the opportunity to go to America then I will do everything I can possibly do to make that happen. If they’ve got an opportunity it’s not about the club all the time, it’s about the individuals as well," Dibdin said. 

Acknowledging that American youth football is probably home to a greater depth of technically gifted and athletic footballers because of the size of the country, Dibdin also recognised that the Scottish game can compete. He stated: "If you hide from the best then how are you meant to know? From my experience girls want to learn football, not by watching but by playing."

Central Girls FA certainly cannot be accused of hiding from strong opposition, competing against the number one, five and six ranked teams in Pennsylvania state. 

Dibdin also praised his team for the way they responded to game situations, saying:"“I would tend to think that we were more creative and that we were adjusting to games tactically better than they were.” However, he was more than aware of the strengths of the opposition, “They were very well set-up and shaped. When our attack broke down, all of the opposition players were prepared for that."

During the trip, there was also time for the girls to relax, bond and explore new surroundings. Visiting iconic areas, such as the Rocky Steps and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, they even managed to squeeze in some shopping. The girls’ coach tried his best to avoid the malls but events had their own say.

"When we traveled we lost all of our bags on the first day so that was a bit of a challenge. Eventually I had to go shopping!" Dibdin remarked.

A day in Annapolis, Maryland, meant that the team got the chance to enjoy some water sports before going on to Washington, DC, to visit the Whitehouse and then New York to experience sights such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Central Park. One of the players unfortunately dropped their phone into the Hudson River but their coach saw the bright side, "Luckily she never dropped in!"

Joking aside, the trip was important in fulfilling the vision of Central Girls Football Academy.

"During these kind of trips where you are together for just short of two weeks, you see people in a different light than you would at training and that helps with team bonding. At the club, we start at nursery school and go through to adult teams. Of course we lose some who go off to pastures new but our ethos is to give these players a life experience, as well as a footballing one," Dibdin said.

Last season’s players for the Beveridge Lions Red will have been only two years old when Arsene Wenger steered Arsenal to their famous and unprecedented undefeated season in the Premier League.

After coach Daniel Farley repeated that success at the first attempt at 11-a-side in the under-13 Fife Development League, last season can only be described as a success for the Fife club.

"It was a tremendous achievement by all the boys, and something they should all be really proud about," Farley told Youth Football Scotland.

The Lions’ only defeat of the season was in the Development Cup Final, a game they lost 2-1 to Real Fife, an experience the Beveridge coach says that "will definitely be used to spur us on throughout pre-season and the new league campaign".

With a well-deserved off season for the players over and pre-season training well under way, Beveridge Lions Red approach the next few weeks with the possibility of “two or three friendlies” in order to “help us gauge our progress and highlight any areas we need to focus on during training”.

The step up to under-14 level is something the club is acutely aware of with it being the first year the players will have faced a full year of competitive fixtures alongside an increased calibre of clubs. 

With the qualities of Blue Brazil, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, and AM Soccer gracing the U14s league, there is an opportunity for "healthy" rivalries that will allow the Lions the possibility for the Lions to face "the best players in the area", Farley said. 

Even if some defeats come the way of the Lions, Farley is determined to keep the focus on enjoyment: "Above all we want the boys to enjoy playing football. We hope they can look back on in future years and have some great memories." 

There is a general feeling of optimism within the Fife-based club with the club "fortunate to have been able to sign a couple of really good players in the off season", signings which Farley hopes will improve "strength and depth through all positions" and build on the success of the squad he has retained from last season, most of whom have stayed on with the Lions.

The mentality of the players was also praised by the coach. "We never took winning for granted. We just kept our heads down, working hard to ensure all the squad were pulling together as a team at all times…each and every one of the players…carried out their own roles excellently," Farley said.

The possibility of another Invincible season awaits the Lions and while Farley claims that "seasons like the last on don’t come along that often", the benefits of a squad well versed in winning may well lead the Lions to doing something that even Arsenal could not manage by finishing two consecutive seasons unbeaten in the league.