As we head for the summer break, we take stock of how the first part, of our ESSDA 7s season went. We’d only had the boys with us since October 2024, and by March 2025 we were all set for Kick Off. No friendly games so it was all go. We found it hard to get to grips with the games, but our Friday night sessions, with our long-term community coaching partners, https://www.3v2socceracademy.co.uk it all started to come together. The boys finished the season very strongly. We’ll be back in 1st week in August, and look forward to the next phase of the ESSDA U10s games.

Sunday 13 April our 7s welcome Tranent Juniors to Pilrig Park....

Sun 30 March 7s game now confirmed

 Friday session and final preperations for Sundays 7s game at home to Currie FC

On Sunday 2 March Our 2015 (U10s) set out on what may hopefully, be a 30 year football journey. Starting with the small sided 7 v 7 game, and ending who knows where. Mini Bus left Pilrig Park at 9.15am with ten excited boys, as we travelled to play Currie Star. No Frills no Tactics, we just let them play….

Our new 2015s squad enjoyed their 1st session yesterday on the grass at Pilrig Park. It was a relaxed session with nothing too structured. Boys have ideas on what position they want to play, and we’ll concentrate on trying to “fine-Tune“ this in future sessions, but we’ll adopt the Albion philosophy of “Just let them Play”. Its worked for us in the past…..

Our Thanks...

Friday Night Soccer School, Lively as ever..

Friday coaching sessions 5.30pm - 6.30pm @ Pilrig Park school, Leith. We have space for another 3 local boys born 2015. PM for details…A wee Video blast from the past circa 2017.

AlbionYou Tube channel......??https://www.youtube.com/@rapsathealbionpilmenysport3426/videos

We’re ready.Our new section for boys born 2015 holds its first coaching session this Friday 25 October @ Pilrig Park School, Leith, from 5.30pm - 6.30pm. A second weekly session is planned for Sunday mornings, starting January 2025. Both weekly sessions will be in order to prep the squad and be ready for the ESSSDA 7s season starting in March 2025. We’ve limited spaces available, so if interested, FB message the club or contact via our website at redpathalbion.co.uk…Our youth and Juniors Serving the Lorne/Pilrig/Bonnigton and Leith community for 35 years

After four very successful seasons at youth level (SERYFA) winning 3 league titles and 2 cup finals, from U13 to U16 Albion will now turn back the clock and re-establish our Junior Soccer School. Starting from Friday 25 October, we’ll be facilitating fun football sessions on Friday nights @ Pilrig Park and School. Our youth coaching team will partner 3v2 Soccer Academy, to build a pathway for local boys born 2015, with the main aim to offer entry level small-sided 7v7 games, within the East of Scotland Soccer Development Association, hopefully from March 2025. We’ll move to 2 sessions per week, adding a Sunday morning coaching session, from January 2025. Plans are in place to expand and add additional age groups dependant on local demand.

It’s with great reluctance that we’ve come to the end, and decided not to register any club teams at U17 next season. Theres a number of factors involved, namely the red-tape and “hurdles” now attached to facilitating teams at the senior youth level. Registration rules governing this playing level are severely stacked against “Community Clubs” and in effect the SFA close the doors to this sector, from U18 onwards. Regulations state that after a season at U18 clubs are required to apply for U20 Development Status. However, only those clubs who can ensure a pathway to Senior semi-pro clubs registered in the SFL/Lowland League/East of Scotland League etc, will be permitted to apply for U20 development status. Community clubs hit the proverbial “brick wall” and have no option but to disband, and release players, when reaching U18. As difficult as this decision is, we feel its in the best interests of the lads, that we disband the team now, giving players an early opportunity to move to any number of Pathway clubs, giving them an early opportunity to transition to pathway clubs, then continue to enjoy playing, safe in the knowledge that they’ve joined a club offering the pathway to U20 . Also, the boys are at an age where their positions in pursuit of Educational qualifications become even more important in the next school year, and football may not be so important. Some will leave school in Summer to pursue careers, so again, football may be a secondary concern. Games would be played on a Saturday at U17, and I believe, a number of players weren’t keen on the switch. We anticipate a number of Div 1 and Div 2 clubs will show interest in our remaining players. It’s been an incredible journey at youth level, with many positive memories for us all, indeed some of the squad have been with us since 2016, and have become an integral part of the club. Doing the League and Cup double at U13s and U14s, and now Div 2 Champs at U16s. We’ll keep a close eye on their future progress. We’ll now go back and work towards nurturing and cultivating the next generation of Albion players, as we finalise plans, with our community partners, 3v2 soccer Academy,https://www.3v2socceracademy.co.uk to re-establish our Football School, with a view to entering ESSSDA at soccer 7s, giving children an opportunity to gain entry into official, organised small sided football games, which we hope to commence, in early September. Details to follow….We’ve a saying here at Albion….”Trophies and Medals gather dust, Memories last for ever”, we’ve plenty of both.

U16s Cup Final. Here we go.......Major dissapointment for both clubs with the weeks torrential rain leaving the park unplayable. New date for Faichney Memorial Cup Final will now be Saturday 8 June at Ainslie Park Stadium. We've no problem conceding home advantage to Spartans Our cup final opponents. 

3 home games due at Pilrig in seven days,as the race for Div 2 title hots up. Its all to play for......

SERYFA Division 2 Fixture now Confirmed - Sunday 25 February @ Pilrig Park - 2pm KO. @ Home to Redhall Star....Hard fought 1-0 win. 

U16s (2008s) Scottish Cup draw......We're away to Tranent Whites. Tie to be played on Sunday 10 September

It’s that time of the year Again. Our O35s squad is assembling for the start of the 2023 season, and the league application has now been forwarded. First games kick off on 21st or 28th April, with the season ending in early October, so in affect its Summer football. A number of old Albion veterans will continue to pull on the famous Badge for another season, in this the clubs 65th year. We’ll be issuing regular updates on the website…..

Club Document Page updated - 22 February 2023

Academy Video Page updated - 22 February 2023

 New away kit sponsors, The Witchery by the Castle (U13s and Prestonfield House (U15s), are both owned by Mr James Thomson OBE.

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We're up. Our U14s secured promotion to SERYFA Division 2 with an emphatic 8-1 win v fellow promotion candidates Gullane Athletic

Last weeks visit to Leith Links for our U14s in the Div 3 league cup v Leith Athletic - We came away with a well deserved 3 points, after a 0-3 win....

Kits now India bound. Irfan flies out to Mumbai at weekend with surplus Academy jerseys for distribution to the local villages. Irfan’s contacts in Mumbai have told us that football boots are also urgently needed. We’ve costed air freight charges and think we can help. When Irfan returns we’ll put out an appeal for any unwanted football boots, all U12 sizes considered, and maybe small cash donations to cover costs of shipment. Well done Irfan, and all players who returned used kits.

After almost 2 years our indoor sessions are back…..

We're Back....

Ours Thanks to U13 coach Tom for this very detailed set of stats highlighting the 13s league and cup winning season.Painstakingly been compiled, and no doubt time consuming, it makes formidable reading. It was a short season, but a memorable milestone for the lads, and indeed the Albion Academy.

MATCH REPORT.....

Very productive 2010s non-contact session at Pilrig Park yesterday. Almost 100% attendance, so well done to both squads for attending. Also big thanks to our coaches for facilitating the sessions. Our 2009s are back next Saturday 6 March @ Pilrig Park 1pm -2pm.

Who remembers the table-top football game Subbuteo, customised team kits worn by the tiny football figures. Adults of a certain age will remember it well, and no doubt most of the club dads, will have played it at some stage while growing up. Well we’ve joined the esteem ranks of the world-wide Subbuteo teams. Big thanks to our 2009s keeper Louie’s dad, David Curti for arranging to have this set produced. Fantastic attention to detail.....

Ariel view of proposed new 7 v 7 area