TO illustrate the high standard of football in Edinburgh, there were no fewer than six Edinburgh clubs in the seven national finals.
Edinburgh City 16s won the South East Region Youth Football Association's national competition, beating local ri
vals Leith Athletic in the final, as well as the South East Region Cup, the league championship, Steve Maskrey Cup, Jackie Faichney Cup and Evening News Trophy.
City aside, Tynecastle made the headlines on finals weekend at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie as their 13s and 15s outfits triumphed, beating celebrated Aberdeen team Albion BC and Linwood Rangers.
MANAGERS OF THE YEARMANY managers and coaching teams have excelled with the Scottish Cup-winning sides setting the standard across Scotland, while the dominant Leith Athletic 14s and 19s sides both swept to success in numerous domestic competitions.
The success of any manager has to be judged on what they start with, how they sculpt a squad and, ultimately, how they influence the young players at his disposal.
Two managers who have arguably had to work harder in achieving great success are Ross McNeil and Ian Flynn.
McNeil, the manager of Edinburgh City 16s, guided them to six trophies. Taking into account that, due to the movement of players to and from senior clubs' youth systems, McNeil wheeled and dealed with a constantly changing group of players to such great effect that, although the team that ended the season was unrecognisable from that which began the term, City swept to glory on all fronts.
Meanwhile, Flynn became the first-ever coach of relative minnows, Edinburgh South to see silverware by winning the South East Region Belmont Vauxhall Cup. Flynn's prodigious 13s side, armed with the superb attacking quartet of son James, Kieran Stewart, Daniel McKinlay and Cameron Armstrong, also lifted the League Cup as well as the Championship trophy.
PLAYERS OF THE YEARNO little precocious skill graced East Region youth football this year, with fans feasting on superb individuality from young footballers, many playing with a style beyond their years.
Whether it was through goals, pure graft, or moments of skill, crowds were consistently wowed by a number of players who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Although there are hundreds and thousands to choose from, three players caught the eye by continuing their superlative form right up to the dying seconds of the last game. Step forward Lewis Hawkins, the visionary and neat midfield engine of the dominant Tynecastle 15s side, Dean Carse, the energetic and flamboyant forward of Hutchison Vale 15s and Leith Athletic 19s midfield dynamo Paul Coleman.
Fans of these clubs will tell you that the trio produced the same eye-catching displays week in, week out throughout 2008/09.
Hawkins not only skippered his side to victory in the prestigious Scottish Youth FA Challenge Cup final at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium but was also a standout at Tynecastle Stadium as the team saw off plucky Third Division hopefuls Fernieside.
His range of passing and, above all, his ability to pick the right pass ensured Tynie could both retain possession and drive forward where necessary. Calm and assured on the ball, Hawkins was credited in the latter match by an Evening News report that read: "much of the play flowed through his vision, confidence and skill on the ball".
Like Hawkins, Carse was called up to the Edinburgh Schools under-15 select squad, with the Hutchie hitman in typically rampant form with a brace in the 3-0 victory over their Mid/East Lothian counterparts at Meggetland early in the season.
His perpetual motion and natural running ability made him a nuisance for opposition defences, constantly chasing 'lost causes' and reaping the benefits.
This was no better illustrated than when, on his team's way to victory in the Division 1 League Cup final, he hounded Bonnyrigg Rose defender Jamie Knox at the corner flag where many strikers would have allowed the defender to make a defensive clearance. Carse subsequently sent a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box for team-mate Alan Clark to set Hutchie on their way to a 6-1 win.
Even during his side's more sober moments, such as Hutchie's loss to Tynecastle in the South East Region Youth Cup final at Dunbar, the striker could come up with the goods: "Carse proved a mobile and able striker all afternoon, using his trickery and pace to good effect," read the Evening News report.
Formerly of Salvesen BC and having enjoyed a spell at Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Football League's Second Division in 2007/08, Paul Coleman was back on the Edinburgh youth football scene this past season, and what a talent we have missed!
At 16, Paul was handed his Alloa debut against Greenock Morton and was described by the club's official website as "a player with great prospect".
Having found home comforts in the shape of Leith Athletic's stellar 19s side after a spell at Lochend, Coleman was back at his best after missed opportunities at the Wasps. With a sleight of foot, he can escape the clutches of his marker and open up play before him, and with a typically powerful forward surge he wills his team-mates forward. It's no wonder that Leith coach Paul Adamson, who will be without the services of the elder statesman of his team for the coming campaign, says Coleman will be "a big loss".
In the Royal Edinburgh Cup final against Musselburgh Windsor, the Evening News match report read, "Captain Paul Coleman, winding up his time with the club due to age restrictions, was workmanlike and creative throughout the match."
LOTHIAN BUSES plc SOUTH EAST REGION YOUTH FASeason 2008-09 Honours
Under 19
League winners:
Division 1: Leith Ath.
Division 2: Star A.
Cruden Bowl: Leith Ath.
David Murray Cup: Leith Ath.
Royal Edinburgh Cup: Leith Ath.
Federation of Hibs Supporters' Cup: Leith Ath.
Bob Bankier Cup: Leith Ath.
Division 1 League Cup: Hutchison Vale.
Division 2 League Cup: Eskmill.
Under 17
League winners:
Division 1: Loanhead M.
Division 2: Haddington Ath.
Victor Paris Bathrooms Cup: Loanhead M.
Prison Officers' Cup: Haddington Ath.
Michael Moran League Cup: Spartans Reds.
Chairman's Cup: Currie Star.
Division 2 League Cup: Redpath Albion.
Under-16
Scottish Youth FA Challenge Cup: Edinburgh City.
City Financial Independent South East Region Cup: Edinburgh City.
League winners:
Division 1: Edinburgh City.
Division 2: Tynecastle Colts.
Division 3: Musselburgh Windsor Colts.
Steve Maskrey Cup: Edinburgh City.
Jackie Faichney Cup: Edinburgh City.
Evening News Trophy: Edinburgh City.
Division 2 League Cup: Hunterfield.
Division 3 League Cup: Currie Star.
Under-15
Scottish Youth FA Challenge Cup: Tynecastle.
City Financial Independent South East Region Cup: Tynecastle.
League winners:
Division 1: Tynecastle.
Division 2: Seton.
Division 3: Fernieside.
Division 4: Star A.
Federation of Hearts Supporters' Cup: Tynecastle.
John McConnell Cup: Tynecastle.
Division 1 League Cup: Hutchison Vale.
Division 2 League Cup: Seton.
Division 3 League Cup: Civil Service Strollers.
Division 4 League Cup: Edinburgh Utd.
Under-14
City Financial Independent South East Region Cup: Leith Ath.
League winners:
Division 1: Leith Ath.
Division 2: Edinburgh City 95.
Division 3: Bonnyrigg Rose.
Division 4: Duns Juns.
Willie Bauld Cup: Leith Ath.
Kenny McLean Cup: Leith Ath.
John Crawford Cup: Hutchison Vale.
Bill Sheridan Cup: Leith Ath.
David Innes Cup: Haddington Ath.
Ian Mackay Cup: Edinburgh South.
Pilmar Smith Cup: Bonnyrigg Rose.
Paladin Cup: Spartans Reds.
Edinburgh Cup: Duns Juns.
Star Trophy: Tranent Juns.
League Cup: Musselburgh Windsor Colts.
Under-13
Scottish Youth FA Challenge Cup: Tynecastle.
League winners:
Section 1A: Spartans.
Section 1B: Edina Hibs.
Division 1 (after play-off): Edina Hibs.
Section 2A: Edinburgh South.
Section 2B: Civil Service Strollers Colts.
Division 2 (after play-off): Edinburgh South.
Division 3: Dunbar Utd Colts.
Division 4: Hunterfield.
Ken Ritchie Cup: Tynecastle.
Lothian Buses Cup: Tynecastle.
Peter O'Neill Cup: Tynecastle.
Stewart Brien Cup: Tynecastle.
Persevere Cup: Craigroyston.
Belmont Vauxhall Cup: Edinburgh South.
Tom Welsh Cup: Eskmill.
Steve Maskrey Cup: Tynecastle Colts.
AC Taxi Cup: Hunterfield.
Polar Foods Cup: Hunterfield.
George Salmon Cup: Edina Hibs.
Kivlin Cup: Edinburgh South.
Division 3 League Cup: Spartans Colts.
Division 4 League Cup: Easthouses.
