Senior Team updates

Information received yesterday from the Seniors association has given an indication of next seasons divisional set ups. The Senior Ams have unfortunatley failed to stave off relegation, and under league re-construction proposals due for ratification at tomorrows AGM, they have been placed in the Lothian West Division alongside the following:- Alba Ath Balerno Ath Cramond FC Glenpark Th Links Utd North Edinburgh Wdrs North Merchiston Vale Redpath Albion Seaforth Highlanders St Bernards Whitburn Ams The Colts are allocated a position in the Edinburgh Central Division with three new sides among the twelve teams. Cabrera Ath Caledonia Star (Leith Star) Civil Service Strollers Clermiston Star (new) Edinburgh Academicals (new) Inverleith AFC (new) LBG Strollers Melville Rovers Redpath Albion Colts Silverknowes Vale Sporting Icapb Standard Life The implications of full re-construction will be up for discussion by club delegates at tomorrows L&EAFA AGM.

Senior Ams avoid drop

The Ams relegation saga, with two sides Albion being one of them, both sitting in joint bottom place with twenty points.Panic over. Seaforth Highlanders were deducted points for unfulfilled fixtures and now only record 17 points from 20 games. The Highlanders will now join North Edinburgh Wands as the two relegated sides for season 2011/2012.

Coming Soon....New U10s sevens team

The club is at the advanced planning stage on establishing an additional soccer sevens team to enter the ESSSDA 7s set up from August 2012. Our coaching team is almost in place, and our current U10s will be preparing for the step into Sunday morning football over the Summer. Discussions with parents have been very positive and all have been receptive to committing to the idea. With the coaching team all but finalised, the U10 parents will be formally canvassed, with details on all aspects pertaining to the club/parent/player involvement and requirments being distributed in the next few weeks. Barring any administrative obstacles,ESSDA and SYFA registration will be the next step in securing the clubs player pathway.

Fun in the Sun for U11s

An early morning 9:15am kick off for the U11s as they travelled up to Kingsknowe for the visit to Currie BC. A fantastic end to end game with both sides playing some good football as the youngsters coped well with the early morning hot temperatures. The fourteen goal thriller ended all square with Albion's goals coming from Bryce 2, McGoldrick 2, Scott, Simpson and Kerr.

Albion's Senior Sides....What the future holds?

With both senior management teams standing down at the end of the season the club has offered options to existing squad players with a view to canvassing for replacements. Each of the current squad at Senior Ams level were asked formally, with letters distributed to each player, requesting that they assist the club with finding a solution to appoint a new management team. There have been tentative discussions, with certain senior squad players, endeavouring to find an answer to the problem, but at the time of writing no solutions have been found. The situation is now critical as the L&EAFA AGM is being held in under a weeks time and the league association will be looking for a firm commitment from the club in relation to registering the Senior Ams for next seasons league campaign. The situation re new management appointments go beyond the role of team playing affairs. The substantial outlay required by clubs just to keep solvent is increasingly becoming a major obstacle. With association and national affiliation fees reaching £300+ the insurance premiums, both personal injury and public liability, pitch and referee fees all having to be considered along with new kit purchases, the decision to appoint the right management team at Senior Ams level can't be taken lightly. The Senior Colts Squad's position is less of a problem. Although no managment team may be appointed, the senior players within the group, have decided that three or four of the squad will "share" the management duties and tasks. There is a real desire among the squad to nurture and develop the idea. It may be deemed as unorthodox, but the running of the section as a ”co-operative” has a great chance of working. This idea has also been proposed to the Senior Ams as a possible solution. It may be the only solution!

L&EAFA Annual Meeting

The Lothian and Edinburgh Amatuer Football Association AGM will be held on Thursday 31 May at Boroughmuir Sports Complex,Meggetland at 6:45pm. All Senior Amateur clubs are expected to register their attendance. failure to attend will result in the L&EAFA levying a fine of £50 to all clubs not in attendance.

U11s new Saturday sessions

The long awaited Saturday U11 coaching sessions can finally get underway this weekend after a two week delay due to the atrocious weather conditions. The core element of the additional sessions will be aimed at addressing match situations that can't be covered at Tuesdays regular weekly coaching night. Players are requested to be at Pilrig Park for 1:15 prompt with sessions ending at 3:30pm. Pilrig School is open and changing facilities will be used. The additional sessions will continue through June.

U11s Sunday fixture change

The U11s ESSDA fixture has been subject to a late change. Dalkeith Miners can't fulfill the designated fixture, so the club moved swiftly, to rearrange last weeks postponed fixture away to Currie BC. Kick off on Sunday at Kingsknowe is 9:15am.

U7s head for Pilrig

The 7s section will enjoy a rare outdoor visit to Pilrig Park tonight and hold their coaching session in the open air. It will be a welcome change from the indoor hall at Pilmeny Youth Centre. Parents are reminded that lads can meet the mini bus at the youth centre - 6:10pm returning at 7:25.

Currie Cancelled

We've just had notification that our U11 fixture away to Currie BC is OFF due to Kingsnowe park being waterlogged. Not surprising given this weeks rainfall.

Tuesday 22 May.....school in service day....not for us

The Edinburgh long weekend holiday, Monday 21 being Victoria Day, the schools are also closed for an in-service day on Tuesday 22nd. The club's Tuesday evening coaching sessions for all 8-11 age levels will be held as usual. Same times, same place.

Here we go again!

After a second week of torrential rain Sunday's ESSDA 7s game could be in some doubt. The fixture away to Currie BC at Kingsknowe Park could end up waterlogged. With no game last week, Musselburgh resigning from the association, it will be a big dissapointment if the weather wins again. Fingers crossed that the parks dry out and if they do the 7s game kicks off at 9:30am. Meeting times will be arranged in next 24 hours.

U11s Summer Coaching sessions

The Club will introduce Saturday coaching sessions for the U11 squad. Commencing on Saturday 26 May from 1pm to 3pm sessions and continue through to Saturday 23 June.

May Monsoon closes parks down

The three day onslaught of torrential rain has all but wiped out weekend fixtures in Lothian's. A casualty of the heavy rain was the club only weekend fixture, the U11 sevens fixture, away to Musselburgh. With pitches waterlogged, including Pilrig, the club had no alternative but to cancel Sundays event.

Ams relegation issue....who now goes down?

With the season all but over the Ams find themselves rooted, second from the bottom, and in essence would be prime relegation candidates?. Not so. Linlithgow now sit in joint 2nd bottom, with both clubs on 20 points each!. Relegation will now be decided by collating each clubs disciplinary points for this season. The team with the worst record will take the drop. Only disciplinary points from league games will be counted. At the time of writing the club is unsure which way the count will go. We may be informed soon, or may have to wait until the association AGM later this month.

Albion on You Tube

We've uploaded a few video's of recent club games to You Tube. Although seen as a bit of fun, it will give the club another medium for promoting club activities. Members will able to share events with friends and family throughout the world. Since uploading earlier in the week we've had loads of messages noting that relatives can now log on and view nephews, cousins, grandsons etc at play. We've gave it a public listing so we'll see how it goes. Have a look and enjoy the footage at http://www.youtube.com/user/redpathvids/videos (you may have to cut & paste link into browser)

Ams still clinging to life in Premier Division 2

Results at the weekend favoured the Ams survival cause with Linlithgow losing narrowly at home. It still leaves 3 sides sitting on 20 points in joint second bottom. It looks like it will go down to the wire.

Ams just edge end of season classic

It was a weekend for big crowds at Pilrig with a larger than usual gathering turning out to watch the end of season match. If anyone thought this was going to be a stroll in the sun they were quickly reminded that both sides wanted bragging rights and in a very entertaining 90 minutes the Ams just edged it with a 4-2 victory.

Juniors entertain two big Pilrig crowds

Friday nights game v 3v2 Soccer Academy drew in a huge crowd for what was a master class in football by two talented squads of U12s. The results are irrelevant at this level and both sets of coaches were delighted with the input from their players. Sunday morning and Albion entertained Kirkliston SQ, in what was another game to thrill the large Pilrig crowd. The game kick off in brilliant sunshine, then ended in a downpour, that affected both sides of young players as the dramatic weather change made life difficult, with the surface becoming wet and slippy. The away side just egded it on the day and the punters who stayed with the game, despite the weather, witnessed some cracking goals.

Ams v Veterans bring curtain down on Seniors season

Tomorrows Ams v Veterans game at Pilrig Park, kick off 1:30pm brings the 2011/2012 season to an end. A strong veterans side will be the final test for this seasons senior squad. The game will allow Ams players to bid a fond farewell to the current management team of Geoff and Kevin who are both standing down due to work and family commitments, and to a number of current players, who have decided to retire. Win or lose, both squads will enjoy a post match celebration.

Albion's Friday U7 session

The U7 session tomorrow evening will take place at Pilrig Park, weather permitting of course. It will allow the lads to enjoy a session on grass, with a bigger area to utilise, and also take in some of the U11 v 3v2 game. All meet at Pilrig for 6:30pm

U11s v 3v2 Soccer Academy

The long awaited friendly sevens match against 3v2 Soccer Academy will take place tomorrow night, Friday 4 May at Pilrig Park. Quick note: As Albion have three U11 lads who attend the 3v2 Elite sessions we'd like to reaffirm to parents that the boys will be lining up in Albion colours.

Wee James in the wars

The club were notified yesterday that U11 player wee James Kerr suffered a dislocated shoulder in a playground accident . The club, the coaches, and his squad mates, wish him a speedy recovery.

Ams...there's still hope.

The Ams Premier Division 2 fate is still finely balanced. Sitting in second bottom spot on 20 points the two teams above them both sit on the same point mark, but each have 1 game left to play. Defeat for both would leave three sides sitting in joint second bottom place in the division. How will it all end? The next seven days will reveal all.