SPECTATORS at the early-awaited under-13 clash between Edina Hibs and Hutchison Vale at the Jewel in East Edinburgh were left frustrated and miserable as the young players taking part were caught up in a storm of freezing cold rain that turned the pitch in to a mudbath.

If ever any of our politicians who claim to have the welfare of young people at heart wanted to see an example of the need for modern, clean, hygienic and civilised facilities for community-based football in Edinburgh then the game at the Jewel would have been a prime example for them to see what our young people have to endure as we approach the year 2007!

Of course, no politicians were to be seen at the home base of Edina Hibs on such a cold and, ultimately, rain lashed venue. The SFA South East Scotland Regional Manager, Michael Sharp, was among the good crowd to see these two top sides in action but, he too, was drenched in the freezing cold rain at the finish. It was and will continue to be a travesty for all connected with community-based football clubs to see such talented young players having to play in such conditions.

If politicians will not attend games to see what conditions are really like for young people in Edinburgh, and all other parts of Scotland, then they should be totally ashamed of themselves. What this city needs to do is invest in young people wanting to play the greatest team sport in the world - football! Our young people need to be given third-generation synthetic pitches to play on, within enclosures and with facilities for changing and socialising within each enclosure. These facilities could then be used by both players and spectators alike.

After 60 years of total neglect, the facilities in Edinburgh are a disgrace to a capital city of Scotland. All over the city at the weekend, games were called off due to the heavy rainfall, but if there were centres throughout the city housing 3G pitches and facilities, these games could all have gone on. Games can be played on these synthetic pitches, one after the other. Under floodlights, too. Also, if modern facilities were provided within each enclosure, then players could have a shower and then mix with their opponents in a social area.

While these facilities are given to rugby clubs in Edinburgh, with the most ostentatious example to be found at Meggetland, where more than £3m of public money was used to build the most marvellous facilities for a private rugby club - Boroughmuir and also an enclosed pitch with facilities for hockey, Boroughmuir Hockey Club!

Meanwhile, some of the top young footballers in Scotland were struggling to keep their feet in the mud at the Jewel on Sunday. And it was the very good Hutchison Vale outfit that emerged deserved 1-0 winners in this game.

The game kicked off in the low sun of a winter's morning and it was the visiting side that looked to be 'up for the game'! The quality of their passing on the heavy pitch was wonderful to watch and with big Euan Smith causing havoc in the Edina defence, it was a great game to watch.

Sam Todd carried most of the threat when Edina attacked the Vale goal, but the best chances were created at the other end of the pitch in a cracking first half.

Vale duly took the lead in the 10th minute and it was Smith who ran on to a wonderfully weighted pass from Scott Gray through the inside right channel, to take the ball round Edina keeper and fire the ball in to the net at the far post. It was a brilliant goal, well set up by Gray and expertly finished off by the very impressive Smith.

Edina, urged on by coach Ian Fergus, did get themselves back in to the game, but Vale contested every ball and it was they who always looked capable of adding another goal. Edina were caught on the ball too often and their passes went astray time and time again.

They were chasing the game in many respects in the first half, but they again lifted themselves at the start of the second half in a bid to get the equaliser. The closest they came to scoring an equaliser came in a tremendous goal-mouth scramble in the Vale goalmouth, but the ball was eventually booted clear by the visiting defence.

As the sky darkened and the rain started to lash down, Vale were awarded a penalty by a very good match official, Jim Markey. Smith took the kick but he did not connect well with the ball and the Edina keeper saved brilliantly.

There is no criticism of Smith in this spot-kick incident as the Edina goalmouth was a sea of mud. In fact, it was surprising he was able to keep his feet.

The final part of the game took place in conditions that were a test of character to everyone concerned and it was a relief, indeed, when the final whistle went. The rain-soaked young players, to their great credit, lined up to shake hands with each other, followed by the respective coaches. All of them deserved a medal!

These two teams will feature prominently throughout the season in this age group and, hopefully, their next meeting will take place on a lovely sunny day on a dry and level pitch.