Day six

Sunday 23 November and the boys head to the Celtic Park for the stadium tour.  The

Celtic legend Dixie Deans took the tour, and even Scotland Tour organiser Duncan

said that it was the best session he had ever seen (and he has seen more than one or

two).  Back to Jurys for lunch and pre-game chill-out and by 2.30 p.m. the boys were

on their way to Toryglen Regional Football Centre one more time.

MFS’s opponents today would be the Scotland Youth Football Association’s U17

international squad.  According to the SYFA head coach, these players were all

competing for a spot on the national team.  Some were already “earmarked” for a

spot.  There were some very large boys – one measuring a whopping 195cm and a

solid boy also.  The MFS boys were not phased. 

The game kicked off at 4.15 p.m. on the massive indoor ground.  With about 200

spectators the game had the atmosphere of a professional contest.  The MFS boys

started strongly out of the blocks and within a short time had exhibited some quality

football.  At about the 20 minute mark MFS scored the first goal through a classy

combination completed by Michael Emsley and George Mcheileh.  By half time the

SYFA team managed to equalise via a penalty.  In the second half MFS dominated,

however managed only one more goal scored by Christian Hesse with a great header

from a corner kick by Daniel Sweeney, to finish the victors with a 2-1 score line.

All of the boys played well and we were very proud.

Then it was back on the coach and off to Edinburgh, where the MFS boys will stay for

the next five nights.  Head coach George Campbell surprised the boys with the news

that they would be taken to see an additional game namely the Carling Cup quarter

final contest between Arsenal and Manchester city the following week.  The boys

were rapt.