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 EVERYTHING abourt Spartans Community Football Academy in Ainslie Park in Edinburgh oozes class and inspired leadership! It was extremely busy and bustling again for the opening day of youth football. Off the pitch, the extension to the main clubrooms is almost ready to be opened and, indeed, there is a huge advert for Birthday Parties in the lounge area. Another inspired move on behalf of those who plan and administer what I consider to be the best and busiest football facility in Scotland. On the main stadium pitch, beautiful playing surface, Spartans under-17s entertained Star ‘A’ from Newtongrange in Midlothian. Under-17 team boss, the highly voluable Les Atkinson, said: “We will concentrate this season on getting the ball down and playing passes. We have been working on that pre-season and it brought rewards today!” Spartans won convincingly. And yet, there was also a lot to admire about the newly promoted Star ‘A’ as they, too, played some excellent football. But their defence was ripped apart and the score was 7-0 at half-time in a game that took place in lovely warm sunshine. The game was marked by the superb passing and movement from the home side. Spartans were one of the best squads in the under-16 age group last season and they look to have improved significantly. There is not a great deal I can write about apart from the procession of goals that made the league clash so one sided. Sufficient, therefore, to praise the attitude of the losing side. From where I was standing, Star ‘A’ took it ‘on the chin’ and I sincerely hope they recover and tighten up in defence.  And what can I say about Spartans in their opening ‘slaughter in the sun’? Well, they were unstoppable but they lost the most ridiculous goal possible and no wonder goalkeeper Callum Speedie pulled his jersey over his head to hide his embarrassment! ‘Go and sit in a dark room with the door locked and the blinds drawn, Callum’! It was a ‘howler’ OK, was it not? Goals came early in the game for Spartans, and I think every player in the famous jerseys of the home side was in ‘attack mode’ for this game. I heared one of the home coaches issue instructions to a sub and he said: “Bring the ball down and control the game. Play passes to keep play flowing!” And that, indeed, was what this game was all about. Good football played at an exceptional facility here in Edinburgh. I am not going to name everyone who scored in the game, apart from Daryl Wallace who robbed Callum Speedie of the ball to score for the visitors. Spartans goals came from different players including Jordan Brown, Stephen Havelin, Blair Atkinson, Jamie Dishington and the scorer of the goal-of-the-game from skipper David Scobie. The Spartans No 6 ran from his own half of the big pitch to beat several opponents on his way and when the boy David got within sight of the Star ‘A’ goal he unleashed a bullet of a shot from fully 30 yards out and the ball was still travelling like a train as it hit the back of the Star ‘A’ goal.
WHAT A SHOWOFF YOU ARE DAVID SCOBIE! I suppose you will enlarge on my description to the adoring young females when you return to school this week.
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Clubs 
