Heroic progress for Nicolson boys
A Nicolson Institute team this week reached the last eight in the national competition after defeating a top footballing school from the central belt on penalties.
A heroic performance by the Nicolson’s Under-13s took them through to the quarter finals of the Scottish Shield – the furthest a boys team from the school has gone in a national trophy for 19 years.
There were 118 teams at the start of the competition and the Nicolson boys had already seen off Cults Academy from Aberdeen, Turriff Academy and Perth Academy.
Tuesday’s opponents were St Andrew’s & St Bride’s High School from East Kilbride. The game finished in a 0-0 draw before the Nicolson team went through 5-4 on penalties.
Coach and deputy rector, Angus Mackay, said: “It was a great win against a big school. The boys were outstanding today. In 30 years, I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a 0-0 draw in school football.
“Neither team really had chances. They cancelled each other out and the defences worked very hard”. As penalty drama mounted, Nicolson goalkeeper Seumas Maclean saved the fourth of the visitors’ penalties.
Up stepped Alex Mackay, who is Angus’s son, to coolly finish the job. His dad said: “It was hard to watch”.
In the quarter-finals, the Nicolson team will face an even tougher opponent in St Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch – the school that is linked to the Celtic Youth Academy and has Kieran Tierney among its alumni. This time, it will be an away fixture for the Lewis lads.
The previous high for a Nicolson team was in 2007 when the Under-15s went the whole way to win the national trophy for their age group.
Angus says: “It has become more difficult. There are schools that are linked to the youth academies of professional clubs, though we ourselves have a few lads who are with Ross County and Caley Thistle”. The Under-13s have also reached the semis of the North of Scotland Cup where they will next face Dingwall Academy.