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The Boys Club sections have now
been established for 20 years, from 1988 to the Present. To celebrate a very
successful 20 seasons based in the Lorne Area of Leith
a short historical snapshot will be posted on this page.
The following statement is taken from the club history page
In 1988 the Amateur club officials decided to re-establish the policy on which the club was formed and adopted the old principals of Sport and Recreation, and to form a boys club in the Lorne/Pilrig Area of Leith. Giving something back to the community by way of an outlet for young people to achieve their sporting ambitions was an appropriate way to celebrate 30 years of Football. The partnership link with the Pilmeny Youth Centre, also based in Lorne area, provided scope for taking the boys club to a new level. Our first under 10 side participated in the Lothian Amateur Boys FA, then the club enjoyed over a decade of membership with the Lothian Federation of Boys Clubs, then Lothian Clubs for Young People. Success followed in a number of sports with Gold medallists at X-Country, Pool, Snooker and Unihoc being among our major successes. The club can proudly boast of having eight youth team players capped for Boys Club of Scotland National football side. As we surpass our half-century, we can proudly count four generations of players who have been associated with the club, Grandfathers, Fathers and Sons have all enjoyed the experience of being an “Albion” member.
The background photograph is one
of the first team/squad pictures taken at the old Pilmeny Youth Centre
and displays the club U10 team with their new kit
sponsored by Billy Duncan owner of TAPE VISION VIDEO based in Duke
Street Leith
The previous 20 years have been
eventful and rewarding and the service the club has provided to local young
people in the Lorne and Leith Community
has firmly established the club in the memory of all those who have enjoyed an
association with Albion. Long may it continue.
From the boys club's inception it was agreed that an informal record of club
business be kept as a way of archiving the historical facts relating to all
boys club activities. It was with great intentions that the club 'scrapbook' be
kept updated, but as we've moved through the last two decades, it was
inevitable that it would be difficult to commit to this task. We do however have
an abundance of written and photographic records that can be
archived and it is our intention to share these with you on this page.
TIMELINE
January 1988
* Inaugural Meeting held Thursday 12
January 1988
- Attended by 6 senior Amateur Players
- Office Bearer positions appointed, Clubleader, Secretary, Treasurer,
- Agenda Points, Entry Cost set at 10p per person, Annual Membership set at 25p
- Constitution adopted, Age levels set at 7-10 years
- Start-up donations given by Redpath Albion AFC £25
- Pilmeny Youth Centre Board offers free venue use with the proviso that we
insert clause in our constitution
that preference be given to young people from the Lorne Area
* First coaching session held at Pilmeny
Youth Centre Friday 20 January 1988
- 6pm - 9pm
- Attended by 34 members (10 at each hourly session)
* Second coaching session at PYC Friday 27 January 1988
March 1988
- Club split into 2 age groups - U10 and U11 coaching spread over three
hours each Friday evening. 14 Members per age level
- Club funds hit the impressive total of £46.40
April 1988
Team
A Green - S Grant - R Mackay - D McKenny - M Milne - J Headspeath - D Louden - N
Green
May 1988
* Sponsorship Secured from Tape-Vision
Video, Duke Street = £400
June 1988
- Club takes part in "U11 7-a-side Spring
Fling" Football Festival at Inverleith Park
Win event by defeating Leith Walk Primary School 4-1 and Hermitage Park 1-0
wearing kit borrowed from Lorne Primary School
Team
A Green - S Grant - R Mackay - D McKenny - M Milne - J Headspeath - D Louden - N
Green
July 1988
Hibernian & Scotland Goalkeeper at Albion
Jumble Sale held at the Pilmeny clubrooms before refurbishment
August 1989
U11 line before home game v Broughton at our
old home ground @ Leith Links
September 1990
U12s line up at Leith Links before defeating
Pilton Sporting Club
September 1991
U12 lwin the George Hunter Memorial Cup at
Meadowbank Stadiun.
The indoor 5s competition between local boys clubs' and Amateur sides was held
in
Memory of Albion Amateur player George "Chick" Hunter who tragically collapsed
while
jogging round Seafield Playing Field. The Albion Amateur side also won
their event.
A four figure sum was raised in aid of the British Heart Foundation, with
trophies presented by
Hearts player Gary Mackay
August 1992
U12s and 13s at Leith Academy
