Seniors season 2011/2012

With the old season only ended two weeks ago the Seniors have already cemented plans for pre-season. First pre-season get-together for the squad will take place on Saturday 2 July. Time and place for the first session to be decided, but it looks like an early season outing at Pilrig Park is a hot favourite. More details to follow.

U10s fine display at Spartans

The U10 Colts travelled to the Spartans sports complex yesterday morning for a 9.15am kick off, but they made light work of the early rise, and the constant wind and rain showers to record a fine display and win v Edinburgh Reds.

Sunday 29 May - Early start for the U10s

The U10s will kick off tomorrow at 9.15am away to Edinburgh Reds at the Spartans Academy.
Club bus leaves Pilmeny Youth Centre at 8.30am

Colts and McDonalds

This weekend the clubs Junior sections will host a visit from a film crew representing RazorResearch, commissioned by McDonalds, to debate their impending four year sponsorship of Grassroots football. Filming begins at Pilrig Park on Sunday where club officials and parents, will be conducting face to face interviews with the film crew, hoping to trawl ideas on how McDonalds should best utilise their sponsorship at Grassroots level. Following on from the filming at Pilrig Park, club officials and a group of parents with children involved with the club, will then move on to the clubrooms at Pilmeny Youth Centre to debate the ideas in more detail. There are many ideas and contentious issues to debate which are specific to clubs concerns with the development of grassroots. This could be the right platform to get our point across.

Season 2011/2012 Kick Off date now official

Notification has been received that the Seniors season 2011/2012 will commence on Saturday 13 August 2011.

Technical Team changes

Youth team coaches, Robbie Huxtable (U19 & U16) and Cristo O'Brien (U16) will team up with the existing Juniors section coaching team. With the closure of the club's youth season, Robbie and Cristo expressed a keen interest in lending their vast experience to safeguarding the development to the clubs Colts sections. They both take up their posts with immediate affect.

Junior Colts

The U10 Junior Colts ESSSDA 7s are at home on Sunday 15 May to Edinburgh United Colts - KO 10.30am

Ams bow out with win

The Clubs Senior side wrapped up their season with a 6-5 win over Danderhall at Pilrig on Wednesday night. In a scrappy, but end to end game, the result was in some doubt as the Ams battled back from 1-3 down.

Blog lost for two days

Apologies to all of who have logged in looking for info. The Blog server "dashboard" section was undergoing maintenance at the server end.

U19 and U16 Youth seasons now wrapped up

Season 2010/2011 for the clubs U19 and U16s is now over. The final games due to take place at the weekend have been cancelled.

Ams bow out as season 2010/2011 comes to an end

The clubs Senior season comes to an end with this evenings home fixture v Danderhall MWFC KO 6.30pm. A storming end to the season, when the squad hit some eally good form, was derailed with last Saturdays 2-4 defeat to Barca Milton which left Albion just outside the promotion placings. A win this evening will possibly secure a third place finish.

Does the council have another agenda when it comes to sport in Edinburgh?

Following on from our thread last week highlighting the playing conditions at Pilrig Park, there were some interesting comments from the "Friend of the Clubs" Mr Ian Mackay. Ian has been a stalwart of youth and Amateur football in the Lothian area for many years, and has been a witness to the many trials and tribulations faced by clubs who incur the regular "brick walls" they face when dealing with council officials. The "old school tie" carries a lot of weight in this city when it comes to youth and amateurs sport. Ian's comments are recorded below and lifted from his website http://localheroesunlimited.webs.com/

" It was interesting to see Ian McDonald at this game, considering his ongoing disappointing treatment at the hands of officials in Edinburgh City Council. Ian has poured money in to sponsoring his own club, Redhall Star, at Redhall Park and he has in fact transformed the out-of-date changing facilities in this park but he refuses to spend any more until he gets a lease to the place. The matter is now in the hands of his lawyers but he faces a trying time in his dealings with those in power in Edinburgh City Council. Personally, I do not know how Ian McDonald keeps going. I have been through the same treatment in the past few years in my campaigning for better facilities for young people. But I found that in Edinburgh it is not possibly what you, rather who you know that matters. For example why do rugby clubs get permission to set up bases in public owned property and in the process sell alcohol sometimes on ground owned by the educational departments? I don’t know of any football club that has this type of licence. I was at Meggetland on Saturday for the semi-final of the Craig Gowans Memorial Cup and I was reminded once again of my camptagning to get the use of the main stadium for football finals, etc. Despite eventually proving that the main stadium used exclusively by Boroughmuir Rugby Club was in fact owned by the people of Edinburgh, I never did manage to get it for football. Do you know that the main stand and pitch are maintained by all of us who pay our council taxes. That and many other things I found out in my long career promoting and campaigning on behalf of those wrongly classed as being in minor-grade sport are treated by the rugby loving officials in power in Edinburgh,. Do you in fact ever notice that rugby pitches in council owned property always get preference over football pitches and are usually situated on the flattest ground and near to changing faciliites. I will be surprised if Ian McDonald does not decide to call it a day, just as I was forced in to"

Ams promotion hopes ended at Pilrig

A 2-4 defeat at home to Barca Milton AFC ended Albion's promotion hopes in a game with more than a few bizarre twists and turns. The awarding of five (5) penalties in a thrilling 90 minutes gve the big crowd plenty to talk about, but in the end, Albion ran out of steam at the crucial hurdle. A marvellous 6 game spell, which re-energised the Seniors promotion hopes, unravelled at a critical stage of the season, and even with one game left, the promotion aspirations will have to be put on hold for another season.

19s crash at Cramond

Albion's U19s failed to maintain their recent good form as they crashed at Cramond with a 5-3 defeat. Another depleted squad, let down yet again by feeble excuses from certain weak individuals, who jumped ship, battled bravely against a home side who were playing their final game of the season. Down 3-1 at one point, Albion fought their way back into the game to level with 10 minutes remaining, but succumbed to a late flurry which ended with Cramond scoring two late goals. Albion have one game left before they end their season, away to Haddington Athletic next Saturday and the players who went missing yesterday, and who let the club and their team-mates down badly, can look forward to another "day-off" next week as Albion finish their season with the loyal squad members who gave their all yesterday.

Seniors big day at Pilrig

The Senior squad will host high flying Barca Milton at Pilrig Park tomorrow in what will be seen as a possible promotion clincher for the visitors, if they win, or a huge leap for Albion promotion hopes if the home side pick up all three points. Its 4th v 2nd and should be sure to draw a huge crowd at Pilrig. Everyone here at Albion wish manager Geoff and the Albion back-room team all the best and as the lads have hit a great run of form the result could very well go their way.

Weekend Fixtures

Seniors - See separate thread
Saturday 7 May - U19s away to Cramond FC - KO 2pm (League)
Sunday 8 May - U10s away to Musselburgh - KO 10.30am - ESSSDA 7s
Sunday 8 May - U16s away to Haddington Ath - KO 2pm - (League)
* U10s are reminded that the club bus leaves the Pilmeny Youth Centre at 9.30am
* U16s are reminded that the club bus leaves the Strathie corner at 12Noon

Albion's magnificent 7 at City Park

Albion's short hop along the road to play second placed Spartans FC ended in a spectacularly convincing win. A win that puts a severe dent in the home sides title challenge. In a first half that was possibly Albion's best of the season Goals from Hamilton (2), Glasgow, Southall and Herrera had Albion in an unasailable 1-5 lead. A lead that was fully deserved. The second half was not as convincing as the first, but playing up the steep hill, the home side threw everything at Albion and forced their way back into the game with two quick goals. However, goals from Kirkland and Glasgow, with a late home goal thrown in at the end gave Albion a very comfortable 4-7 away win. Worth noting that the playing surface at City Park was a disgrace. It was the opposite of the situation at Pilrig Park on Sunday. The grass had been cut, probably several times over the past weeks, but with the cuttings left on the surface, the conditions were laughable. We'll post a few photographs on the website before the end of the week.

Albion 19s v Spartans - Wednesday 4 May

Albion's 19s travel to City Park to play league leaders Spartans FC in what will be their second league game in 48 hours. Club bus leaves the Strathie at 5.15pm sharp.

19s grab point at Dalkeith

Albion's 19s had to settle for a share of †he points with a 3-3 draw away to Dalkeith MWBC last night. It could have ben all so different as Albion stormed into a 0-2 half time lead with goals from Hamilton and Herrera. However, the weekly pantomime was played out again when woeful defending allowed the home side back into the game with goals in the 46th, 58th and 69th minute to overturn a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 advantage. It wasn't to end there. Albion dominated the game in the final ten minutes and should have scored 3 times, with the easiest of chances missed, before Herrera turned home a loose ball in 86 minutes to make it 3-3

19s Monday 2 May v Dalkeith

The 19s squad are reminded that the club bus for tonight fixture away to Dalkeith will leave the Strathie at 4.45pm

16s lose, but some answers needed?

The 16s lost their final home game to Eskmills 1-2 on Sunday with a depleted side wearing the Albion colours due to suspensions and injuries. No excuses for the result as the promotion challengers Eskmills deserved their victory. It is however, worrying that yesterdays match official was again a locally based referee. Our calculations show that the match official has officiated at nineteen (19) of the clubs youth games this season. Our U16s and U19s have enjoyed his company so many times this season that surely questions should be asked at association level about the allocation of match officials?. Is the lower leagues at differing age levels suffering an inequality of the associations referee allocation policy? Have other clubs witnessed similar allocations of match officials. The 19s head for Spartans on Wednesday 4 May, and the match official....Yes, you've guessed right. The club has been happy to see this particular match official allocated over the season, and indeed we commission this match official to take charge of our friendly games, so we have no gripe with his refeeeing standards, but a fresh face would be welcome change.

10s game ruined by conditions

The U10 colts soccer sevens game at home to Currie was ruined by the local authorities inability to maintain the playing areas. The length of the grass and bizarre site of blue paint being used for the pitch markings were a sight to behold. All credit to both sets of youngsters for struggling on with the game, but the 50 minutes were ruined for everyone involved, including spectators as the lads struggled to plough through the surface conditions. The grass was so long in some areas that the smaller players were unable to pass the ball more than a few metres. If it wasn't so serious it would be laughable. The triple whammy of the long grass, "artistic" blue lines, added to the tonnes of dog mess the club has to remove from the playing areas, is a sad indication of this cities civic leaders failure to back sport in this city, especially football. At an annual cost to the club of £300+ for the use of the playing areas at Pilrig Park, added to the £2K+ annual let charges for the adjoining school for changing facilities it is a sad indictment of their abdication of responsibility and their duty to maintain local amenities for the cities council tax payers. The time and wasted energy speaking to the local authority about these conditions, and at times being reassured that they will rectify the situation, is a constant concern. When will someone listen and take the issue seriously? Visiting clubs are quick to comment, and rightly so, and the embarrassment felt by Redpath Albion is wearing thin. The SFA, SYFA, SPL and local football associations can push out as many soundbites as they like about developing the game in this country, but until local authorities buy into the national propaganda, the powers at national and local level can talk themselves hoarse. How many coaches and young players are being lost to the game due to their ineptitude?. Why would a youngster part with his game subs to use playing conditions more suited to the third world when he could spend it in McDonalds instead? Why would an U19 lad (their game the previous day was equally marred by these conditions) when he could use his weekly game subs to buy alcohol instead? Our U16 home game also had to contend with the triple whammy? If the council persist in their failure to meet their obligations to maintain the playing surfaces at Pilrig Park, and its been like this for years, should Redpath albion say enough is enough and close its doors to the local children and young people in our area?. Its a radical move, but with club officials and Albion's coaching volunteers getting weary of the constant battle with the local authority, the situation is now critical. The clubs social responsibility to the local community is being seriously hampered by the failure of the local authority to even meet minimum maintenance standards of the playing surfaces at Pilrig Park. The promotion of healthy lifestyles and the clubs social commitment to offering children and young people the choices to pursue health and fitness pathways, which will, or should benefit them in adulthood, are not being matched by the local power brokers. We can only only commit to the promotion of healthy lifestyles if the authorities are prepared to at least meet us half-way. We have the "tools' to fulfil our social commitment to the local community, but without the support of the local authority, the fast food joints and the alco-pop sellers may be the only winners.

Old habits result in 19s having to settle for a draw

Albion's 19s lost a 2 goal home lead to bottom club Edinburgh United as a 3-3 draw, in their last home game of the season, resulted in the season long habit of comedy defending. However, yet again, Albion should have been oiut of sight in the first half with total dominance of the visiting side. Indeed, it was fully eight minutes before Albion's keeper had his first touch of the ball. Goals from Herrera, Glasgow and Hogg weren't enough to give Albion all 3 points, and the game was never a 'classic'

Ams pick valuable 3 points

Albion's seniors picked up a valuable 3 points in their quest for promotion with a very hard fought 0-1 away win at Pathhead AFC. A solitary goal from leading scorer Archibald was enough to maintain the pressure on the league's leading pack. With two home games left in this season's campaign, Albion need to keep winning and hope some results go in their favour.