Cans colts recognised for progression
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FORRES Mechanics Youth Development celebrated another season of improvement and achievement at a packed Forres Town Hall.
Presenting the awards was Mechanics’ stalwart midfielder, Scotty Moore, who has just enjoyed his testimonial year with his home town club.
In his opening remarks, Head Coach, Charlie Brown, praised all of the U13, U15 and U17 boys – some 60 in total – for their hard work and effort throughout the season.
He said: “We are fortunate to have some excellent prospects with the club at the moment. Many of them will, I’m sure, progress to professional level if they continue their current attitude and effort. Tonight may be about those few who have been recognised by coaches and other players, but really we have 60 winners.”
Brown also praised the efforts of the parents and backroom staff, and particularly recognised his team of coaches, all of whom are volunteers.
He said: “The coaches give up an incredible amount of time for love of football and their commitment to the lads. It is not just training twice a week and games every Sunday throughout the season. We have a great bunch who are keen to improve their own coaching skills and are working their way through their SFA coaching badges. Next season, we expect to have now fewer than four coaches at C Licence level, which is a great achievement for them and the Club.”
Players, parents, sponsors and friends of the Club enjoyed a fun evening of bingo and raffles with a superb buffet before the climax of the night and presentation of the awards. Prizes included Celtic, Aberdeen and Ross County tops signed by the players and a huge variety of treats generously donated by individuals and firms from Forres and beyond.
The Club’s most prestigious award, the Sandy Smith Quaich, made in memory of player and referee, Sandy Smith, was presented to its youngest ever winner, Under-15 captain and double award winner, Lewis McIntosh. Charlie Brown was joined by U15 Coach Allan Frisken in praising Lewis’s outstanding leadership and commitment to Forres Mechanics Youth Development.
Brown said: “Lewis is, of course, a very promising player – he thoroughly deserves the U15 Coaches’ Award for Player of the Year. But it is his leadership on and off the field which marks him out. He demonstrates a quiet authority that shows you don’t have to be shouting all the time to be a good team captain. He leads by example, not just through his skill and work-rate, but also by his good sportsmanship. He is a credit to his parents and himself.”
The Winners were:
Top Goal-scorers
U13 – Jack Miller
U15 – Nathan Fox
U17 – Craig Ellis
Coaches’ Player of Year
U13 -Samuel Eades
U15 - Lewis McIntosh.
U17 - Lee Rigby.
Players’ Player of the Year
U13 - Jack Miller.
U15 - Toby Clark.
U17 - Tyler Frisken.
Sandy Smith Memorial Quaich for Outstanding Achievement - Lewis McIntosh.