In November/December 2008, Melbourne Football STARS toured Scotland. The trip was a great success not only for MFS, but for Australian Football as a whole.
All participants gained an insight into the world of professional football as well as an experience in Scotland’s deep history and culture.
The Team stayed six nights on the famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland and the home of Scottish Footballing giants Hibernian FC and Hearts FC.
The group visited and learned about the rich history of Edinburgh Castle, one of Scotland’s famous icons.
The players had the privilege of training at the Hearts FC Training Centre with the Hearts U19 Coach.
MFS watched the Hibs v Celtic SPL match which allowed them to soak in the electric atmosphere of SPL football. The football played was a great indication into what is needed to play Professional Football.
The players also trained with the Hibs FC Head Youth Academy Coach at the new World Class Hibs FC Training Centre. They met Mixu Paatelainen, the Hibs First Team Manager and Donald Park, the Hibs First Team Assistant Manager. Donald also put on a coaching session that was lapped up by the boys.
“Donald’s deep understanding of the game and his football know how blew me away”, Javier Carrillo, Touring parent.
They also had the chance to watch the Hibs First Team in action at training.
They then played the Hibs U15/16 Academy and played some great football. Whilst losing by the odd goal they earned the praise of the Hibs coaching staff for their performance.
MFS then travelled to Glasgow, the home of the First ever International Football Game and the largest city in Scotland.
Glasgow is home to two of the world’s biggest football clubs, Rangers FC and Celtic FC.
They trained with Andy Kennedy, Former Rangers FC player and Youth Head Academy Coach, in front of Ibrox Park Stadium.
MFS then toured Ibrox Park Stadium, home to Rangers Football Club and ate a traditional Scottish lunch in a Director’s box, overlooking the UEFA 5 star Stadium.
They then played the Rangers U15/16 Academy team at Murray Park, one of the best Training Complex’s in Europe.
They were able to sample to the famous chant of ‘Follow Follow’ as Rangers chalked up a comfortable win in front of 51,500 crazy Rangers fans.
“It literally took my breath away” , Alvaro Carrillo.
MFS beat Rangers 3-0 and were told that it was Rangers’ first loss of the season. This was an historic result that had the whole of Scottish Youth football aghast. One comment made summed up the performance -“Now we understand why Australia did so well in the 2006 World Cup and look likely to qualify for 2010 in South Africa - we need to keep a closer eye on talent from this part of the world”.
MFS were able to bask in the glory of their Rangers performance by touring Hampden Park Stadium, Scotland’s National Stadium. This Stadium has much history embedded in it’s soil and it was great that young footballers could be exposed to some of it.
They also toured Celtic Park Stadium, the largest Stadium in Scotland and home to Celtic Football Club who were the first team in the UK to win the European Cup under the legendary Jock Stein.
In Aberdeen, MFS were trained by the Aberdeen FC Head Youth Academy Coach. They then toured Pittodrie Stadium, home to Aberdeen FC. The boys had another taste of SPL action with Aberdeen beating Motherwell 2-0 in a packed Pittodrie Stadium.
Overall the 2008 Scotland Tour was a great success and as such MFS have been invited back again in 2009.
The MFS participants, found the Tour as both Educational not just from a Football perspective but from a cultural perspective as well, “My appreciation for Scottish football, coupled with the friendliness of the people and the history of its land has grown immensely”, Gianni Di Iorio.
