Home Internationals 2009
COALFIELDS HOME INTERNATIONALS HAILED AS ‘LIFE-CHANGING’ EVENT
Around 50 young midnight league footballers had the privilege of playing for their country in the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s tri-nation Home Internationals which were held in Scotland for the first time on Saturday September 5.
Trust Chairman Peter McNestry described the tournament between Scotland, England and Wales as a “life changing event” for the youngsters taking part.
Apart from the thrill of playing for their country in the stunning state of the art Toryglen Football Centre, the young midnight leaguers were treated to VIP seats at Hampden Park for the Scotland V Macedonia World Cup qualifier courtesy of the Scottish FA and later enjoyed a session at the Kevin Keegan Soccer Circus.
Wales triumphed in the tournament beating Scotland 3-1 in the Final, but Peter McNestry, Chairman of the CRT who officially opened the event said: “Everyone taking part in the tournament has been a winner.
“The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is particularly concerned with helping young people.
“It’s not just about jobs or training. It’s about quality of life and giving them all the challenges and opportunities they would have enjoyed if the coal industry had continued and kept everyone in employment.
“This midnight league competition is by far the flagship of our sporting events, not just for those here today, but also the 3,000 young people up and down the country who take part throughout the year.
“The players representing their countries will remember this day for a very long time. We hope in many ways it has changed lives, and we believe it has already.”
Mr McNestry went on to thank the tournament sponsors, Scottish Resources Group and the Scottish team sponsors Thompsons Solicitors, who both have strong links with coalfield communities.
Fellow trustees, Ken Greenfields, Vice Chair, Sylvia Wileman, Nicky Wilson and Joe Thomas, as well as MSPs Cathy Jamieson and Cathie Craigie and local councillors joined Mr McNestry at the event.
Andy Auld represented Sponsors Scottish Resources Group, while Bruce Shields represented Thompsons.
The Welsh sponsors were RCT Homes (Meadow Prospect), Cynon Valley Crime Prevention, Tenovus and Cambrian Village Trust
The six teams taking part were: Scotland, Scotland Thistles, England, England Lions, Wales and Wales Dragons.
After the round robin stage Wales and Scotland both had 12 points, with a single goal difference point putting the Welsh top of the table. Then came Scottish Thistles, Wales Dragons, England, and England Lions.
Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust picked John Carrick of Scotland at the player of the tournament.
Nicky Wilson said: “This has been a fantastic event, played in the highest of sporting spirit and with some fantastic skills on display.
“We support midnight league football because it gets young people off the streets and onto the pitch.
“What a thrill for all these young lads having the opportunity to represent their country in this Home International tournament.
“It really is an event which widens their horizons, and I am sure many of them will go onto greater things.”
Although the Scots lost out in the final of the tournament, they did see one Scottish victory. Scotland beat Macedonia 2-0 at Hampden to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa next year.