Another busy few days at the Academy

Posted on Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Since we opened just over three weeks ago we have been encouraging local youngsters to pop in and use for free the large and small FieldTurf pitches for impromptu games and old fashioned “kick abouts”.  There have been a few spare slots beween the arranged training and games and the news spread quickly…youngsters were coming on foot, on bikes and by bus with their footballs and boots.  Post Christmas Day there was an influx of new gear and strips…everyone dead keen to them try them out.  Earlier this week we had our 1000th player, Shaun Turnbull from Broughton Academy…each day we’ve been counting how many have been coming along and a new Spartans strip was on offer to the 100th player.  Kenny Cameron our development officer pictured today presenting the strip to Shaun.

 

At the other end of the spectrum the elite rugby players from the Scotland under 21 squad and the pro Edinburgh team have had a number of focused and structured sessions including video analysis and ice baths.  Indeed Andy Robinson and his coaching staff thought their sessions on the FieldTurf had made a big difference when they routed Glasgow on Boxing Day.  Glasgow had been training on mudbaths through in the West.  Edinburgh were in again today in preparation for tomorrow’s return game in Glasgow.  Interestingly Glasgow have been trying not to be undone….they were training today at the Rangers FC training ground on their FieldTurf! 

During the day tomorrow we have our 1st XI training as well as Brechin City with Spartans old boy Jonny Seeley in their squad…and then a Spartans Old Boys game with legends Gowrie, Samuel, Johnson, Lumsden and Nixon amongst others trying the FieldTurf surface out for the first time….can’t see Andy using the ice bath!!!