Festival is another success for Carbrain

Clubs from all over the country descended on the parks for a fun-filled and action-packed weekend and the hosts – as always – delivered.

This was the club’s ninth festival and it has come a long way from its first at Cumbernauld Rugby Club in 2002.

Festival organiser Alex Carslaw said: “Since the very first festival, it has grown and we now attract teams from all over the UK and, in particular, clubs from Northern Ireland with whom we have bonded club friendships.”

The club also has a social inclusion policy, which was highlighted when it hosted the event in 2009 in conjunction with Sense Over Sectarianism, the Scottish government-backed campaign to tackle division within society.

This year’s event saw sections ranging from soccer fours and sevens to 11-a-side up to under 21s, as well as a visit from its popular soccer academy for a display of skills on Sunday.

Taking in the action was local MP Gregg McClymont and MSP Mark Griffin who also helped out presenting the silverware on the Sunday.

For the host club, this year’s festival turned out to be its most successful year ever, with the club taking four of the seven available trophies.

Lifting the cups for their age groups were the under 21s, who defeated East End Rovers with a thrilling 5-2 win, and Carbrain 1999 Sky, who served up a cup winning last-minute goal in a 2-1 win over Cumbernauld Colts. There were also successes for Carbrain 1999 Claret and Carbrain 1997s in the plate competitions.

Other local clubs were well represented with Cumbernauld Colts winning the cup competition at the 1998 age group. Colts coach Jonathon Pirrie said: “ We have visited the festival for years now and it just seems to get better and better. On behalf of my team, I would like to congatulate the organisers for another superb event.”

The full roll of honour was as follows:

1999 Fair Play Cup winners, Carbrain Sky; 1999 Fair Play Plate winners, Carbrain Claret.

1998 Cup winners, Cumbernauld Colts; 1998 Plate winners, Clyde Soccer.

1997 Cup winners, Wolves Boys’ Club; 1997 Plate winners, Carbrain Boys’ Club.

Under 21 Challenge Cup winners, Carbrain FC.

Video highlights can be viewed at http://youthfootballscotland.co.uk/news-a-media/featured-news/2824-yfs-tv-carbrain-bc-finals-highlights.

Carbrain Boys’ Club would like to thank Alex Carslaw, Brian McCarry and Ben McDermott for all the hard work put into the event, also Eddie Dollochin, the staff at both the Tryst and Ravenswood, Stuart Houston & Andy McBride (grounds) and the lads from the refuse dept at NLC.