Archive for December, 2009
« Previous EntriesPlay like Gerrard – February Coaching Courses
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 The Academy have announced details of our “Play like Gerrard” February coaching courses. They will take place between 10am and 12noon, starting on Monday 15th February for the week. As before there will be three age groups:- 3 to 4 (£25)
- 5 to 8 (£30)
- 9 to 14 (£30)
To book call Debbi or Kenny on 0131 552 7854. The 2009 courses received excellent feedback so book early to guarantee a place.
Friendly fixtures
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 Update on Wednesday 30th – The FieldTurf pitch at the Academy was playable today after temperatures rose. We have three friendlies arranged for Saturday 2nd. The day starts with an 11am ko between our Junior team and Craigroyston who have been doing well in the EOS League Division 1.Edinburgh City and Vale of Leithen then play a friendly at 1pm with City keen to get some action before their big Scottish Cup game against Montrose on the 9th.
Our Seniors then play Newtongrange Star with a 3pm ko. Star have had a great first season so far in the Super League and are through to the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup.
There will be no admission fee for any of the games. The cafe/bar will be open all day.
Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
A Merry Christmas to all our website readers from a very snowy Ainslie Park. For those of you who havent visited the ground there is short video tour on the website of our Womens team at http://www.spartanswfc.com/indexation026NOV2009.htm.
Management thoughts on Saturday’s game v the Juniors.
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 Mike says -“With the arrangements for Jim’s funeral and then tributes to him fronting the website I thought better of commenting on Saturday’s game until today. There was a large crowd at Warrison yesterday and more than a few Spartans ties in evidence which I sure Jim would have appreciated. Craig’s speech brought home the contribution Jim made from the conception to the fruition of the Academy and I’ll think of him every time I come through the front door by just raising my view to the stain glass Spartan.
Jim would have liked what was on view last Saturday. We were without Chris Flockhart, Danny O’Donnell, Stewart Fowlie, Gavin Malin, Kevin Sivewright and Chris Smith (who failed a fitness test before the game) but that gave opportunities for Craig McGarrie, Phil McKibben and Luke Cassidy to get some game time and of course a debut for young Daniel Shields.
In a close competitive game played at a pace which pleased both management teams we were 3-2 up when the blizzard descended around the 85th minutes and Sam called a halt to proceedings. We lined up with Craig in goal, a back four of Robbie, Archie, Dan and Phil; a midfield of Omar, Wee Eck, Sean and Deano with Donal and Cloudie up front.
It was end to end stuff and with a solid performance by Archie and Dan in central defence I always thought we held a slight upper hand. Donal scored from a Deano corner in 14 minutes but that was cancelled out 18 minutes later after a sweeping move down the left by the Juniors which Iain Cartwright finished off.
At half-time we brought Luke on giving Cloudie a rest and swapped Robbie and Omar around. Deano made it 2-1 from close range on the hour and after a great run down the right by Omar his cross was turned in by a defender 10 minutes later. By this time we’d taken Donal off, pushed Omar through the middle and brought Daniel on at right back where he looked assured, played with his head up and passed the ball well. Nick Reid pulled one back before the heavens opened.
Bounce games can be a waist of time if the players don’t treat them seriously enough but that was not the case on Saturday. There is a respect between the top two Spartans teams and an attitude in the home dressing room to go out and prove a point every time we meet. The players take much more from an exercise like that than from a normal training session and Sam, Mike, David and myself were happy with application shown by both sides.
As I write there’s a good chance training will be off tonight and I’ll confirm either way to the players later by text and Email. This will be my last contribution before Friday so I’d like to thank everyone working at the Academy for their help so far this season and wish them, our players and management and yourselves a happy Christmas.”
Mike
Jim Martin’s Legacy
Monday, December 21st, 2009 Club Chairman Craig Graham has put together an excellent tribute to Jim Martin, who’s funeral takes place this morning at 11am at Warriston Crematorium.Jim’s contribution to the club and to the Spartans Community Football Academy is immeasurable and he will be badly missed by everyone who worked with him at the club and by those who stood and watched the game with him every week.
Farewell to Jim
Sunday, December 20th, 2009 Just a reminder that Jim’s funeral will take place at Warriston at 11 tomorrow and afterwards up to the Academy for a pie and a glass of Pinot Grigio! Everyone welcome.Challenge Match
Saturday, December 19th, 2009 Due to numerous matches being postponed, a Spartans challenge match will take place today on the field turf at Ainslie Park, with a kick off of 12.30pm.Tomorrow’s action
Friday, December 18th, 2009 The Juniors are meant to be hosting Broxburn in a Fife and Lothians cup game but tonight the pitch at Ainslie Park was frozen in parts with a light covering of snow. There will be a pitch inspection between 9 and 10 but its not looking good. If the game is off the Juniors and Seniors will be on the FieldTurf at 12.30.The Amateurs are supposed to be heading through to play Whitburn but again the fixture is likely to fall to the weather.
The website will be updated in the morning when the pitches have been inspected.
First team game put off prematurely
Friday, December 18th, 2009 Mike says“It goes without saying that Sam and I are unhappy that a game between two Edinburgh sides has been put off 24 hours before the kick-off. Jimmy Murray spoke to Alastair Wilkie earlier today and told him we’d prefer to wait until tomorrow morning before a referee was brought in to inspect the pitch and that Sam and I would like to be present. It appears that request has been ignored.
I don’t know the rules of the Association but I’ll be getting the club to write a letter asking for clarification on the procedures which are meant to be followed in such circumstances.
It’s a very cold day and I know that it’s 90% certain that Fernieside will be unplayable tomorrow but had it been the Academy we would have given the weather every chance to ease. At Spartans we make every effort to get games played as scheduled but it is a practise which is not always adhered to across East of Scotland football and our league is all the poorer for it.
We will now train or maybe play our Junior side at the Academy on the field turf at 12.00 tomorrow”
Mike
Management thoughts on Fernieside tomorrow.
Friday, December 18th, 2009 Mike says -“First and foremost we all want the game to go ahead. It doesn’t look too promising this morning but too many times games are put off prematurely and a change in the weather ends up with a playable park and the players elsewhere.
We (at Spartans) are happy to turn up for any game and await a decision by the match official but understand in certain circumstances an early inspection allows teams to pursue alternative training arrangements. For now we hope for a snow free day and a slight increase in the temperature outside.
Tynecastle caught us cold at the Academy on 29th August. They deservedly beat us that day and looked a good side as they found their feet in the “higher” league. They currently sit fourth in the table with games in hand on those around them and look set for a very good first season upstairs.
That day at the Academy their energy and application matched by a playing style which passed the ball on the ground at pace, impressed me greatly. We’ll have to be at the very top of our game to take anything away from Fernieside tomorrow.
For our part Danny O’Donnell is unfit, Stewart Fowlie is struggling and Jorge Vinelli tore knee ligaments at training last night and will go home to Spain for Christmas in crutches. Chris Smith is still recovering from a groin strain so we are once again down to the bare bones.
On the plus side Dean Hoskins should be available as will Luke Cassidy and Phil McKibben.
As I’ve said Tynecastle are a very good side but then again so are we and despite losing two of our last three games we played well against both Forfar and the Vale. Our players have to “keep the faith” and continue to play the fast passing games which suits their style and our cause.
Winning a league title is no easy matter and retaining it is even harder. That is our aim and to do that we must be at our best tomorrow and get a positive result.
As I say at the top we are all hoping for a break in the weather and are looking forward to a good game of football.”
Mike
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