Forres Mechanics Youth Development annual awards mark players’ progress
More than 300 family and friends attended an end-of-season awards ceremony over two nights at a local venue.
The annual Forres Mechanics Youth Development Awards celebrate the achievements of the club’s young players as they grow and learn from under-10 to under-18 level.
First up at the Mosset Tavern were the under-10s, under-12s and the under-14 ‘Whites’, followed by the senior squads comprising the under-14 ‘Golds’, under-16s and the under-18s.
The awards for each squad comprise the ‘Players’ Player’ and the Coaches’ Player of the Year’, as well as ‘Leading Goal-scorer’ in each of the senior squads.
The junior squads award winners were: under-10 Players’ Player of the Year - Fraser Cameron; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Louie Fraser; under-12 Gold Players’ Player of the Year - Oscar May; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Finlay Kerr; under 12 White Players’ Player of the Year - Ryan Malcolm; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Rory Lynch; under-14 White Players’ Player of the Year - Charlie MacPherson; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Johnny Heffernan; and Leading Goal-scorer - Jayden Matheson.
Head coach and compere for the nights, Allan Frisken, was enthusiastic about the performance of all the squads.
He said: “I couldn’t speak more highly of the commitment and hard work of all the lads. They have been a credit to the Cans, to their parents and most importantly to themselves.
“The Youth Development has made big strides in recent years. We’ve expanded from three squads with around 50 players, to eight squads and around 150 players, training and playing three or four times-a-week. They are all winners.”
Friskin attributed the success of Mechanics’ youth wing to the players, coaches and parents.
He said: “We have over 20 Scottish Football Association- qualified coaches, all volunteers who turn up rain, hail or shine for training and matches.
“Parents, too, have been incredibly supportive, transporting their kids and ensuring that they turn up equipped and ready for play.
“Our parent committee has been so encouraging, not only throughout the season but also in making arrangements for the awards events.”
Season 2024-25 has perhaps been the most successful ever for the Cans’ youngsters, with the under-18s finishing 3rd in their league.
The under-16s went two better, winning the East Division League, just missing out on the overall Highland Championship to an additional time winner in a play-off against Ross County.
The icing on the cake was the first Mechanics’ youth player to achieve an international cap: former under-14 player, Zara Ramage, now at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, took the field in March for her international debut against England under-16s.
The senior squads award winners were: under-14 Gold Players’ Player of the Year - Daniel Main; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Ethan Ramsay; Leading Goal-scorer - Ethan Ramsay; under-16 Players’ Player of the Year - Euan Walker; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Joseph Sidebottom; Leading Goal-scorer - Joseph Sidebottom; all under-16 squad members received league winners’ medals; under-18 Players’ Player of the Year - Jake Newlands; Coaches’ Player of the Year - Angus Mackintosh; Leading Goal-scorer - Kieran Hayllar; Special Achievement Award - Ben Ross.
In a surprise ending to the senior awards, coach Frisken was speechless on being presented with a photographic memento of the season by under-18 captain, Ben Ross.
In his tribute speech, under-16 lead coach, Mark Pennie, praised Friskin’s contribution to youth development.
“Quite simply, without Allan, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” he said. “His drive, enthusiasm and sense of humour are an inspiration to us all. The coaches all wanted him to have this memento as our recognition of his superhuman efforts.”