A Winning Weekend
Last weekend, saw our club complete a historic couple of days highlighting the development of our youth structure.
For many years, our first team has dominated the Scottish game. However, it was only four seasons ago, that we started out youth set up with the long term plan of slowly implementing a player development pathway to produce our first team stars of the future.
We have a very particular football philosophy at Glasgow City, combined with a very particular individual player development philosophy. We want to not only produce good footballers, but also fantastic young adults with life skills beyond those of winning a football match in 90 minutes when they are older. It is for this reason, you will never see any weekly scores, any announcements of big wins or losses at youth level. Nor will you see any focus on players scoring hat-tricks or blaming a young player for a mistake. Winning is not the most important factor to our club at youth level, development is, but if we can win along the way, then even better.
As a club, this weekend has brought a level of success, we could never have envisaged and one which has certainly highlighted how much further ahead in our planned development we really are. By aiming to do the right things, our youngsters lifted the Under 13 League Cup, Under 15 League Cup and also the Development League Cup last weekend, against much fancied and more experienced opposition.
Add to this our first team winning the Premier League Cup last month, culminates in a very successful first half of the season for Glasgow City FC.
Commenting on the achievements of our youth teams, Head of Youth Amy McDonald said, “First of all, I would like to congratulate all the players and coaches involved at all youth levels at Glasgow City. Their commitment, determination and desire to improve performance is never in doubt. The weekend past is testament to this.
“Our Under 13's and 15's approached the game with the level of professionalism often shown by our own first team. They played with technical ability, tactical awareness but most of all belief and desire.
“I would also like to thank everyone that came to support our teams at the finals. The atmosphere created within Toryglen Football Centre was fantastic; creating memories which will last a lifetime for our young players.
“Going forward, we must continue to improve and gain consistency in our performances ensuring our players reach their full potential. This is made easier by the commitment and dedication by both coaches and players.”
On the success of the club and the development squad, Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black said, “Firstly I would like to congratulate Amy and all the youth coaches for a fantastic achievement. There is no doubt that the weekend has shown the country we are now beginning to make an impact at all levels. On Sunday the development team capped off a memorable couple of days in June.
“Going into the weekend matches all three teams were regarded as underdogs. The Under 13’s got the show underway with a great performance against a team they had lost to heavily just 7 weeks earlier. The beauty of football eh? I believe that result gave the Under 15’s a boost and by all accounts they too were very deserving winners.
“Sunday saw the development team take on a Spartans team not too dissimilar to their Senior Cup Final side. Our players showed a huge desire and worked very hard to ensure this was never going to be a formality. The pleasing thing for me was seeing players such as Amy Anderson, Leigh Ferrol, Lauren Kelly, Amy Docherty, Jodie Brannan, Caitlin O’Hara and Lauren Ray all participate and not look out of place in what was their first senior final at such a young age. A tremendous amount of credit has to go to the senior players who helped these youngsters through the game.
“Finally, whilst it was a great weekend, it must now be a platform to go forward and produce more first team players, as after all, this is what really matters. Going by the weekend the future is bright for Glasgow City FC.”
Pictures with thanks to Graeme Berry. For a full picture report from the Under 13 and Under 15 matches, check out our facebook site Glasgowcity.Fc and ask to be one our friends
17.06.13
