Picture special: Former Elgin City and Lossiemouth players Martin McMullan and Steven Sim lead coaching at Elgin City Youth Academy's 'Pre-Academy' project for budding young footballers aged 6-8
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ELGIN City’s youth football academy returned to action from the Covid break by launching a new initiative.
The Borough Briggs club’s ‘pre-academy’ is a project created as a feeder to the main academy system, which has brought local players like Brian Cameron, Darryl McHardy, David Wilson and Aidan Sopel through from the youth ranks to the first team.
The venture has recruited former Elgin and Lossiemouth midfielder Martin McMullan, and another ex-Lossie man, Steven Sim, as coaches.
Academy manager Robbie Hope said he was delighted to get the scheme up-and-running as it had been in the pipeline for some time.
“I would like to credit both Martin McMullan and Steven Sim for approaching the club with a vision and putting it all together,” he said.
“We aim to develop the young players’ skills and love for the game, as well as an affection for the club and hopefully see some of them in the future run out in the black and white stripes.”
The pre-academy started its training on a Monday towards the end of last month on the Borough Briggs pitch, with the groundsman and director Cecil Jack allocating them a space on the pitch.
The session involved young players aged six to eight enjoying their first football experience with Elgin City.
Players involved in the opening stint, pictured (above) with coaches Sim and McMullan, were (from left) Cooper Sim, Tyler Begg, Ellis Riddoch, Reuban Hogan, Danny Sim, Aaron Chalmers, Mikey Zielinski, Harry Burr, Layton Mortimer, Aidan McMullan and Deacon Kelly.
