Pupils in seventh heaven at Davie Cooper tournament

Hamilton’s St Mary’s and Auchinraith Primary Schools were the champions of the 32nd annual Davie Cooper Soccer Sevens earlier this month.

More than 330 P5 to P7 pupils from across Hamilton, Larkhall, Blantyre and Uddingston descended on Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds for the prestigious competition, on Sunday, May 8.

Organised and run by George Mackenzie with help from Hamilton Sports Council volunteers and support from South

Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, this was the first time the competition was able to be held since 2019, due to the pandemic.

A record number of 33 – 25 boys’ and eight girls’ teams took part and there were some great matches during the mini-leagues preceding the semi-finals, with Davie Cooper trophies presented by MSP Christina Mckelvie.

St Mary’s Hamilton won the boys’ tournament, with Woodside Primary as runners-up. Glengowan ‘B’ and St John the Baptist Primary finished in jointthird.

In the girls’ competition, Auchinraith Primary triumphed, with St Mark’s

Hamilton runners-up, and St Elizabeth’s and Newfield Primary in joint-third.

Other schools taking part were Townhill, Muiredge, St John’s, Stonehouse, Chatelherault, St Mary’s Larkhall, David Livingstone, Newfield, St Blane’s, High Blantyre, Udston and St Cuthbert’s Primary Schools.

George Mackenzie said: “Congratulations to all the teams on their enthusiastic participation and good behaviour on and off the pitch.

“We were delighted with the excellent turn out, far more than we expected so soon after the disruption of lockdowns and restrictions in the past two years.”

Silver lining St Mark’s Primary from Hamilton were runners-up

Prize guys Hamilton St Mary’s boys with their medals at the Davie Cooper memorial statue

Champions Auchinraith Primary School won the girls’competition at the Davie Cooper Soccer 7s

Winners Hamilton’s St Mary’s Primary won the boys’event at the Davie Cooper Soccer 7s

In the medals Hamilton’s St John the Baptist Primary were joint-third in the boys’event

Finalists Woodside Primary from Hamilton were runners-up in the boys’competition