Haddington Athletic coach Ruaridh Morrison admitted that he did not envisage his team’s success after they won the Premiership at the Team United Autism and Neurodiversity League Finals last month.
Haddington cruised past Rangers, Dundee United, St Johnstone, Hutchison Vale and Greenock Morton on their way to clinching the trophy at The Falkirk Stadium.
This caps off a remarkable rise for a club that was founded two years ago in August 2023.
Ruaridh said: “We had a tournament two months after I started at the Oriam Training Centre and we lost all our games, conceded close to 30 goals and only scored five or six.
“So, I did not expect that later on down the line that we would have achieved this.”
The team recovered from a tough start to win the first game of their second tournament in November 2023.
They would go on to lose their next match but Ruaridh believes that the players’ belief in power through adversity was a key factor to their eventual success.
He explained: “At that point, they knew what was required to win but they had to be calm and wait for their moment.
“The following game we ended up winning by five or six goals, so it has always been about allowing the players to do what they need to do and stepping back as a coach.”
Ruaridh went on to recall the build-up to the club’s journey which led them to Falkirk and ultimately, the title:
“We were sitting third in the East Region League and preparing ourselves for another season in the Championship.
“However, during the second day, we won four and drew two of our games which saw us climb into second, thus securing progression and that made us realise this will be the biggest event we have participated in.”
Haddington opened the tournament with wins against Dundee United and Hutchison Vale before facing Rangers.
It was during the match against the Gers when it dawned on Ruaridh that the team could go all the way.
He continued: “We went into half-time three or four goals up and that was when we seriously thought we were in with a chance of winning.”
The Hi-His maintained their winning streak by getting the better of St Johnstone before concluding the event with a clash against Morton.
Ruaridh revealed the message he relayed to his players after going two goals down at the break and his reaction to the winning goal.
“We said to them all that no matter what happens to leave it all on the pitch and we then made it 3-3, before scoring the winning goal with a minute remaining.
“I played football for about 11 years and I do not think I have celebrated as hard as I did in my life, it was unbelievable.”
“There are boys in that team that are from Haddington, like me, who have went through a lot in their footballing journeys and they are all a credit to themselves.
The coach concluded by reiterating the unprecedented success the club have achieved in such a short space of time.
“A year and a half ago, we did not beat anyone and that was at a regional tournament, so to then go unbeaten at a national event and lift the trophy, I don’t think it will be a day I will ever forget.”
