Author: Ross Mitchell

This past weekend saw the Old Racecourse in Ayr host the 21st Land O’ Burns Football Festival. Over 100 teams, spread across 9 different age groups, came from all over Scotland to take part in the tournament.

There were concerns earlier in the year that the Festival would not take place in Ayr, but all problems were resolved and the prestigous event went ahead as planned.

Three different events were catered for over the course of the weekend. There were eight 7-a-side pitches set up with the matches were contested by Under 9s, 10s and 11s. These matches were 30 minutes long – two halves of 15 minutes and the scores were not recorded but every player who participated was awarded a Participation Medal. On Sunday afternoon 4-a-side games were played by local Under 8s teams in a fun and friendly manner.

There were also eleven 11-a-side pitches with Under 13s, 14, 15s, 16s and 17s all competing. The Under 14s and older were split into two sections with each team playing every other side within their section. The finals were played on Sunday with the two teams who came first in their section playing off for the Cup and the two teams who came second playing to win the Plate.

Over the course of the weekend games were played in heavy showers with some sunny spells making conditions difficult for both players and spectators. Despite this, the standard of football was very high with most teams trying their best to pass the ball around and keep possession.

The Under 13 age group saw local side Valspar FC (pictured, below right) take the top prize, winning the league section. The cup section was won by Ayr Boswell who were victorious over Moorlands in the final. 

In the Under 14s age group, last year's national champions Hutchison Vale emerged victorious in the Cup competition and Edinburgh rivals Edina Hibs took home the Plate.

West Region Cup winners Moorlands BC were the winners of the Under 15s Cup and in the Plate, Hillington YC took the spoils.

Last season's all conquering Tass Thistle Rovers were able to win the Under 16s Cup and Glenburn MW FC winning in the Plate final, meaining it was Ayrshire success on both fronts.

Finally, in the Under 17s Cup final Ayr Boswell BC came out as champions with Irvine Thistle winning the Plate in the same age group. Once again, an Ayrshire double.

Overall, the weekend was a success. The football on show was of high quality with a lot of promising young players that could be stars in the future. As it is a lot of the time in Scotland, the weather was the only downside for the organisers who would have been hoping for a more summery setting for their pre-season festival.

Also, the officiating team deserve a big thanks you for their efforts throughout the Festival. All referees that took part did so for free and did a brilliant job in making sure the matches were played fairly but competitively. The full list of referees that helped out over the weekend is listed below:

Alistair Morrison, Andrew McBride, Liam Gallagher, John Murphy Jnr, David Hainey, Graham Mitchell, Daniel Rae, Scott Maxwell, Paul Salina, David Erskine, David Laurie, John Headrick, John Howker, Finlay Currie, John Wright, Elliot Walker, Margaret Smith, Ian Hamilton, Jamie Robinson, Jonny Drury, David Crawford and Alan Saunderson. 

All the teams taking part in the Under 9 section are listed below:

Ayr Boswell, AC United, Crosshill Thistle, Crosshouse BC White, Crosshouse BC Red, Cumnock Junior Colts, EK Burgh Blue, EK Burgh Black, Glentyan Thistle Blue, Irvine Thistle Reds, Jerviston FC, KCFC Warriors, KSC Sonics, Lochar Thistle, Mill United 1, Mill United 2, Millennium FC, Motherwell Phoenix White, Motherwell Phoenix Claret, Prestwick Colts, Rossvale Athletic, Scotland BC Navy, Scotland BC White, Tass Thistle Storm, Tass Thistle Titans, Valspar, AC Valspar, Inter Valspar, United.

All the teams taking part in the Under 10 section are listed below:

Athletico Valspar, Ayr Boswell Colts, Bonnyton Thistle, Carrick Colts, Calderbraes Whites, Cleland BC, Coylton FC, East End BC, Galston Colts, Galston United, Jerviston FC Claret, Jerviston FC Blue, KSC Barca, Linwood Rangers, Millennium FC, Real Valspar, Scotland BC White, Scotland BC Navy, Stonehouse BC, Wolves BC.

All the teams taking part in the Under 11 section are listed below:

Calderbraes Red, Calderbraes Blue, Carbrain BC, Coylton FC, Cumnock Juniors, EK Burgh Blue, EK Burgh Black, Elderslie AFC, Irvine Thistle, Jerviston FC Blue, Jerviston FC Claret, KSC Rovers, Kyle BC, Largs Spartans, Lochryan BC, Millennium FC, Newcraighall Leith Vics, Prestwick CFC, Rosebank United, Scotland BC, Tass Thistle Colts, Troon Colts.

All the teams taking part in the Under 13 section are listed below:

EK Burgh 2000, KSC Thistle, Jerviston FC 2000, Tass Thistle Jnrs FC, Valspar FC, Dreghorn YFC, Moorlands FC, Auchinleck Talbot, Irvine Thistle, Glenvale FC, Westwood Rovers, Dean Thistle, Cambuslang FC, Ayr Boswell.

All the teams taking part in the Under 14 section are listed below:

Prestayr Thistle, Carbrain BC, Moorlands FC, Hutchison Vale FC, St Andrews BC Red, Gow Valley, Carbrain Sky 1999, Edina Hibs, Hillwood BC, Kingswell 99 BC, Alba Thistle.

All the teams taking part in the Under 15 section are listed below:

KSC Town, EK FC Gold, Johnstone Burgh, Hillington YC, Moorlands BC, Craigie Colts, Glenvale FC, Stewarton Annick FC.

All the teams taking part in the Under 16 section are listed below:

Coylton FC, Tass Thistle Rovers, Glenburn MW FC, Glaisnock Thistle, Ayr Juniors, Dalry Rovers, Auchinleck Talbot, Ayr Boswell BC.

All the teams taking part in the Under 17 section are listed below:

Ayr Boswell BC, Blackburn Rovers BC, Glentyan Thistle, Irvine Thistle, Ayr Thistle, Quarter Athletic, Glenvale FC, Irvine Youth.