Standards take turn for better

the Eastern Region 16s. In the two games this age group have played, against Lanarkshire and Central, the Eastern players have excelled in playing passing and running football.

It was an absolute joy to watch them in action.

Leith Athletic star Callum Kane was in action and he scored the goal of the tournament recently in the 2 0 win against Central at Wishaw when he sliced through the opposition defence to finish off a wonderful solo effort with a thunderous shot which just about ripped the net apart.

One of the most welcome sights in this age group, however, has been the continued development of Edinburgh City player Kevin Morrison.

The change in this boy is remarkable, and he has cheap jerseys already attracted the attention of senior scouts.

Morrison, a pupil at St Augustine's High School, has developed into a good and thoughtful passer of the ball and he is a vital cog in this excellent Eastern Region squad.

So many positive things are happening now in the game at this level, with the Lothian Amateur Youth FA making their own contribution by staging nearly all of their finals in the lovely setting of Olive Bank in Musselburgh, during the summer.

The five finals were all played in the proper spirit and it was obvious the boys cheap jerseys taking part thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Generally there has been a great improvement in minor grade football.

Ties in the Famous Grouse Scottish Amateur Cup and other fixtures have resulted in smashing games to watch, with spectacular goals and non stop action.

Very rarely, now, do ugly incidents spoil games in the amateur grades. This is good news for those who run the game at this level and they are to be congratulated for making the positive moves to allow games to be played as they should be sporting and enjoyable!

It has been a good (very good) year! And, on that positive note, it is a pleasure to wish Merry Christmas to everyone connected with minor grade football!

DRAWS for the Scottish Youth Cup in the various age groups:

Under 12: Greenock YAC v Leith Athletic; Salvesen BC v St Mirren FCBC; St Peter's BC/Rangers SABC v Hutchison Vale; Kilsyth BC v Tynecastle Hearts/Syngenta Juveniles.

Under 13: St Mirren FCBC/Duntocher BC A v Links United; Whitletts BC v Edina Hibs BC; West Park United v Royston BC; Milngavie BC v Barrhead BC/Leith Athletic.

Under 14: Albion BC/Clyde BC v Salvesen BC; Galston BC v Hutchison Vale; Duntocher BC/Arsenal BC v Blantyre Colts/North Merchiston; Elderslie Wallace BC v Musselburgh Windsor.

Under 15: Elderslie Wallace BC/Edinburgh City v St Peter's BC; Yett Farm BC/Tynecastle Hearts v Cherrie BC/Celtic BC; Wardie Vale BC v Syngenta Juveniles; Bathgate United v Leith Athletic/Carse Thistle.

Under 16: Edina Hibs A v Gardoch United; Leith Athletic v Salvesen BC; Aberdeen LC Wolves v Airdrie BC East; Saltcoats Victoria BC v Colony Park/Edinburgh City.

Under 18: Cramond BC/Harmony Row v Kay Park BC/Gardenhall BC; Tayside Boys/East Kilbride YC v Lochgelly Albert Colts.

Under 21: Edina Hibs BC v Campsie Black Watch; Pollock Juveniles/Hutchison Vale v Busby Amateur FC.

Under 21 Lady Darling Cup: Kilpatrick Juveniles v West Barns Star; Blantyre Victoria BC v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic A.

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