THE quite incredible enthusiasm and commitment of volunteers who organise youth football club teams was in evidence, once again, at the foggy and wet Harrison Park on Sunday morning, with a group of soaked men out lining the pitch and putting up goals and nets for the North Merchiston v Preston Athletic under-14 fixture in the Lothian Buses Leagues. This type of situation involving committed, concerned and sharing volunteers is not unusual throughout this ‘third world’ football country of ours.

The pitches at Harrison Park for the community based North Merchiston Youth football club are nothing short of abysmal. Alternatively, the work being undertaken by the men involved in the under-14 team and all other age groups at this famous club in Edinburgh is totally unbelievable, considering they give up their time, talents and their own money to keep these teams going. Meanwhile, the staggering ‘could-not-care-less’ uncaring attitude and elitism as shown by our politicians and officials at the ongoing  plight of clubs all over Edinburgh in having to play in the most disgraceful facilities you could possibly come across in a so-called civilised country is reprehensible. Harrison Park is an illustration of the current dire situation in the so-called ‘festival capital of the world’ – but Harrison Park is not unique in any way as the same facilities can be seen all over the capital city of Scotland – and beyond! And these same politicians who are solely responsible for the appalling conditions our young people are offered for sport in our respective communites have the gall to ask us all to help promote Glasgow’s bid for the Commonwealth Games to be staged there.

But it does not end there, either. I received an email from a local resident,  complaining about the rubbish that was left at one side of the pitch. Even though the place is depressing in the extreme for young people to take part in sport, there is no excuse for leaving plastic bottles and orange peel on the ground for other people to pick up.

In contrast to all the negative vibes surrounding this place, North Merchiston under-14s sponsors, George and Paul Aitken, had two of their builder’s business vans at the park for a sponsor’s photocall to show off the lovely new outfits these generous men have paid for as well as publicising their business. The boys in the North Merchiston outfit responded in the best possible way to thank their sponsors by running out good 6-1 winners on the day. This game, well controlled by referee George Matheson, was a delight to watch.
 
 

I don’t think there was even one bad foul committed by either side throughout both halves. The players were totally honest in their approach to the game and, as a result, the play in the opening stages flowed back and forward, with the home side going on to take a firm grip on the game. Big Ian Dickson was Merchi’s hot-shot on the day, opening the scoring and going on to seal a great performance with three more goals in the demolition of the team from East Lothian. Preston put up a brave fight, but they went 2-0 down with Kris Aitken setting up Dickson for the second goal for Merchi.

A great free-kick from Luke Clark, the son of former Dundee United star, John Clark, reduced the deficit to 2-1 shortly after the start of the second half. But Merchi’s free-running style of play proved to be to much for the struggling Preston defence and further goals from Dickson (3) and others from Jordan Elliot and Ross Fraser gave Merchi ‘six appeal’ at the closing whistle.

This was a good game of football played in a lovely atmosphere on a shocker of a pitch in the poorly maintained surroundings of this council-owned public park. North Merchiston club leader, John Summers, said he has made representations to the Recreation and Leisure Committee to have new changingrooms and toilets built in Harrison Park for the club teams to use. According to the club boss, he was told the expenditure would not be justified as not enough young people use the park. Mr Summers carried out a survey to show how many young people did actually use the place throughout a week. And he has the figures to prove the cost of building new changingrooms and  toilets would be fully justified!

North Merchiston – Sean McCreday, Dahni Kerr, Stephan Baigan, Keith Thomson, Garry Smith, Stefano Cocchia, Robert Kelly, Kris Aitken, James Russell, Murray Gibb, Adam Blues, Jordon Bate, Ross Fraser, Lewis Brown, Jordan Elliot, James Dickson.

Preston Athletic – Jamie Adams, Sean Collins, Ross Irvine, Sam Killen, John Robertson, Luke Clark, Cameron Jude, Lee Niven, Lloyd Swann, Stephen Clark, Stewart Anderson, Ian Rankin, Michael Glass.

Referee – George Matheson.