MBC UNITED V HUNTLY 14'S

Today we travelled to Hazelhead to take on MBC United for our first match of the new campaign and the lack of match action clearly showed in our performance today, in a dogged encounter.
The match started well enough for us pushing MBC on the back foot from the off eventually making the breakthrough in 7 mins when a great through ball by Billy Blanchard sent Andrew Munro down the right and his cross was sent looping over the advancing keeper by one of MBC defenders for an own goal.

The incentive was there for us to kick on and go on to score more but MBC began to retaliate and the lads had Jordan Ogg to thank with a great stop after MBC's No 10 was sent clean through. Next up for us was a great turn and shot from James Brooks which forced a good save from MBC keeper.A few other chances were made but we failed to add to our tally , the best being a dipping curling shot by Andrew Munro which just missed the keepers top right hand corner.
Half time 0-1.

The second half seen Jordan Ogg brought into action far more than we would have liked but he seemed comfortable and with some fine stops proved equal to the task. We were unfortunate not to add to our score when Aiden Bowie's volley hit the post and Andrew Munro's superb turn and shot crashed off the crossbar after a great through ball from Liam Ferguson.

Sadly for us MBC equalised against the run of play and went on to score a winner with goals that really were poor ones to lose.
Overall a disapointing result for us with not much pretty football being played although the second half was more encouraging from that aspect , when we did eventually get the ball wide and attacked on the wings.Lots of things for us to work on and i'm sure once these lads gel together, better results will inevitabily be round the corner. With good individual players we must begin to play as a unit to achieve this.
Huntly's man of the match Jordan Ogg,also encouraging debuts for Ritchie Gibb,Evan Cranna and Jack Duncan.

P.S Training will now be on Wednesday nights at McRobert Park, Aberchirder ( till dark nights) 6.30 - 8 pm

Today's Team :- 1/Jordan Ogg, 2/Ritchie Gibb, 3/Evan Cranna, 4/Jack Duncan, 5/Lee Inglis, 6/James Higgins, 7/Andrew Munro, 8/Liam Ferguson, 9/James Brooks, 10/Billy Blanchard, 11/Aiden Bowie, Subs:-12/Aiden Bowie, 14/Matthew Anderson

why is a Huntly FC team training in Foggie

Maybe majority live nearer to there than huntly.

As we are expanding our youth set up, the facilities that are needed to train and play our competitive games as well as the activities that cover our development training need more and more space. The opportunity for the children and young people of Huntly and the surrounding area to participate in sport is fantastic and the choice and diversity of sport available to them is second to none. This does mean that we are 'all' using the same limited facilities. Aberdeenshire Council have gone out of their way to make sure that both the Meadows and the Market Muir are in the best condition to face a "season of football" and are actively seeking further ground that could be developed for football use. The Market Muir is really too small to host the older age group games. The Youth Football Club, unfortunately do not have that same understanding with the Gordon Schools who appear reluctant for us to use their facilities, this matter is being addressed but that will take time to resolve. The Community Football programme, which is proving itself to be highly successful will have to be suspended over the winter months because of the "unavailability" of indoor facilities.We now have six teams regularly playing over the week-end and all training during the week and only two pitches readily available, one of which is really too small for the older age groups. As we approach the autumn and winter months the pitches are only going to take so much playing and with few alternatives we need to preserve what we have available to us.

Over the summer break, alternatives were investigated and this included The Lossat at Rothiemay and McRobert Park in Aberchirder amongst others. Rothiemay is in Moray and therefore rules itself out for teams in the Aberdeen and District Juvenile League as a venue. McRobert Park is in Aberdeenshire with flood lighting albeit limited and centrally located for the boys who are being attracted to being part of Huntly Youth Football Club.

We then move onto cost. The running of our club is expensive and the biggest expense is facilities hire. We play a competitive game in competitive leagues and therefore are considered to be "non-inclusive". In that I mean selection for the teams is based on ability - this means that public money is not available to fund the majority of our activities. We rely purely on donations, sponsorship and the subscriptions of the boys. Our small committee spend hours raising some of this money but we also have an obligation to our members to spend this money wisely. Some of the facilities in Huntly are expensive and if we are able to source alternatives that are less expensive then we have to do that.

It is hoped that the club will continue to grow and the start of this season is proving that we are only moving up from the strong position we finished last year - Jamieson I hope this answers your question

yes

a simple its central would have sufficed

wow! thats some reply! (and must have answered a lot of questions enthusiastic onlookers may have been feared to ask!).

your comments on the market muir being "too small" for the older age groups! Dont see why that is being assumed. FIFA rules state that the field of play must be 90 meters x 45 meters and I'm pretty sure The Market Muir must be bigger than that.
(as a side note **hint hint** think of Cove Rangers' wonderful stadium also **hint hint**)

the fitba pitch is nae that big

the rugby pitch is but nae the fitba