Milton Rovers finish runners-up at Berwick tournament

Milton Rovers FC squad. Photo taken Saturday at the Reamonn Gormley Memorial Football Festival at Hamilton Palace Sports Ground.
For the second year in a row the Player of the Festival went to a Milton Rovers player this time it was Connor Campbell. (Contributed pic) — Milton Rovers FC squad. Photo taken Saturday at the Reamonn Gormley Memorial Football Festival at Hamilton Palace Sports Ground. For the second year in a row the Player of the Festival went to a Milton Rovers player this time it was Connor Campbell. (Contributed pic)

The Carluke outfit secured a runners-up finish in the five-a-side contest at Berwick Academy, only losing the final 1-0 against Ryehope Colliery after winning all seven of their earlier matches each played over 11 minutes.

“The boys were fantastic,” said Milton Rovers coach Dougie Fleming.

“Winning seven out of eight games was outstanding and the boys were then unlucky in the final, which could have gone either way.

“Ryehope Colliery’s players and coaches clapped our boys off the pitch at the end.”

The tournament provided Milton’s three participating teams with valuable experience of playing competitive football, something denied to them north of the border as competitive games are only available to youngsters from when they start high school.

The Carluke team were only able to travel to Berwick after coaches, players and parents did a charity climb of Tinto Hill which raised £1400.

The players also met Liverpool and Scotland legend Graeme Souness.