Schools finalists to share glory

The final of the 2020 Scottish Schools Under-15 National Trophy will not now be played, with the trophy jointly awarded to finalists Dundee and Forth Valley.

Dundee enjoyed a great run, which started with a 19-goal spree in the group stages. They beat visiting Angus 9-0, won 5-3 away to Fife, and beat Edinburgh 5-2 at home. After beating Lanarkshire 3-2 in the quarters, they reached the final by defeating North of Scotland 3-2 in the last four.

All players who participated in these games will receive medals. They were Luca Ferguson (Braeview); Lewis Boylan, Morgan Garden, Finlay Lyttle, Lucas Mckimmie, Bailey Pert, Fergus Scott (Grove); Lewis Lorimer, Josh Mcguire, Ryan Mcinnes (Harris); Jeffrey Addai-peprah, James Barclay, Ross Clark, Brodie Cussick, Arron Donald, Stuart Heenan, Aiden Mcdougal, Craig Moore (St John’s); and Blair Fyffe, Sam Ogilvie (St Paul’s).

Team coaches were Allan Gallazzi and Scott Brough. Allan, a pupil support worker at Grove

Academy, said: “We are obviously happy our name will be on the trophy. However, there’s a wee bit of me disappointed as I felt we really could have won it outright.

“We have a very strong team, with most of the boys attached to senior clubs, mainly Dundee United and Dundee. We shouldn’t underestimate this achievement, though. Dundee, at this level, is one of the ‘smallest’ teams in terms of high schools and academies, especially when you think of the amount Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife have.”

NAME ON TROPHY: The Dundee Schools Under-15 football team.