Football

The S1/2 club runs on Fridays after school. These training sessions aim to improve the basic skills for young players wishing to learn the game while incorporating team play, passing, control, defending, tackling, movement and communication. These sessions act as an important conduit for pupils who want to play competitive football further up the school. The sessions are conducted in a fun, but purposeful environment which aims to improve the overall skills of the young players. If the players are ready, some competitive fixtures can be arranged for the summer term.

The Academy also runs a competitive football team for boys combining the best footballers from S4-6 and training takes place once a week after school for 90 minutes. As with S1/2 pupils the emphasis is on building individual and team skills, but also with a focus on developing tactical knowledge, team shape and structure. The school has annually entered the Scottish Independent Schools League and Cup competitions where we have consistently qualified for the knock-out stages and semi-finals on numerous occasions. We have also entered teams into the Glasgow Secondary Schools Football League and Cup competitions.

If the players meet the required standard they can be put forward for a trial to the Scottish Independent Schools representative side (SISFA) where they have the opportunity to win an international cap at this level; three senior pupils were selected and have excelled this year for the SISFA side. One of our senior pupils has become the first Academy pupil in recent history to play for the full Scotland U18 side against Australia (2017). We have also had the first Academy pupil in recent history to gain a professional contract on leaving school, to join Airdrie Football Club for the 2016/17 season; these are examples of what young sportspeople can achieve with hard work and determination. We hope you will follow their example and in their footsteps!