Celtic’s u-17 side are looking for a grand slam of Glasgow Cup successes tonight.
Having won the last three tournaments at Celtic Park, Hampden and Ibrox a win at Firhill would make it a clean sweep of Glasgow stadiums to have triumphed at.
For Dan Church and Jack Aitchison picking up a winners medal for the third season running is a great achievement in any under age tournament.
Week by week the players are involved in matches at training grounds although the benefit of artificial pitches at Hamilton Accies and Kilmarnock allows games to be played at the first team stadium.
Against Sevco in the league Celtic won 3-0 at Lennoxtown towards the start of the season, in the Glasgow Cup the teams drew 1-1 at Murray Park before a dead rubber was lost 4-1 at Lennoxtown with both clubs playing their u-15 teams.
I’ve not checked out the condition of Firhill but a decent sized grass pitch should allow the young hoops to knock the ball around, play their passing game and impose themselves on the opposition.
Unusually for a Celtic side one of the main strengths is in defence, three of Michael O’Halloran’s regular back four are in the successful Scotland u-17 side with Max Potter surely knocking on the door for international recognition.
Tonight’s match will be shown live on STV Glasgow which gives the players an edge as well as boost sales of hair gel and styling mousse.
I’ve not been as upto date with this squad as I was last year but there’s plenty of potential on show with more than a few budding Kieran Tierney’s and Liam Henderson’s around- we’ve even got the next Henderson in Ewan whose style on the park is very similar to his older brother.
STEPHEN WELSH
Broke into the u-17 side last season at right-back then impressed as sweeper where he partnered Wallace Duffy in last season’s 4-0 win at Ibrox.
This season he has been sweeper to captain Robbie Deas in the u-17 side, a partnership that has also served Scotland well with just one goal lost in six qualifying ties.
Welsh is composed on the ball, reads the game well and has the burst of pace needed to push forward when appropriate.
DAN CHURCH
If the unthinkable happens and KT joins Barcelona for £50m fear not. Church is a very very capable replacement, within two seasons he won’t be far away from the first team.
He played in the 2015 Glasgow Cup Final at Hampden and nailed down the left-back role in last season’s u-17 side.
From the back he shows great awareness, knows how to defend and the correct moments to push forward into attack. He can also play in central midfield but at left-back he covers a fair amount of territory.
KERR MCINROY
Has developed at an incredible rate this season after pushing his way into the u-17 side last season.
He is a box to box midfielder that knows how to tackle and tuck away any chance that comes his way at the edge of the penalty box.
On Friday he started the Development League match at Cappielow which Celtic won 4-0 against Sevco. He has a great appetite for graft but has the skill and guile to add more than just running to the side.
JACK AITCHISON
The ‘veteran’ of the side, I don’t think he has played any u-17 matches this season but will relish the chance to go out with his third winners medal.
His place in the history books is assured as the youngest player and scorer for the club, the future is more interesting with Brendan Rodgers keeping him involved with the first team.
Next season should be an interesting one, he could well be the third choice striker for the first team which won’t daunt him. He’s always seemed old beyond his years, despite his lack of height he uses his body well and has a strikers instinct around goal.