1995 Age Group

  Mark Hewitson       Ben Stevenson    Eamon Bradley        DJ Mallon     Connor Macdonald   Andrew Guthrie     Aaron Trench        oor parents       Nathan Aird      Callum Stevenson   Danny Kavanagh

Training kit sponsor Martin Plant Hire                        Rain Jackets sponsored by Kenny Murphy

Going to Prague with Sportrenfrewshire help

Gleniffer Thistle under 13s travelled to the beautiful city of Prague for an end of season break. With the help of Sportrenfrewshire,

who set up the accommodation, meals and even an interpreter, to help us break the language barrier.

With strong sporting links across the globe Gleniffer turned to the executive of the sports council for help and this help was very forthcoming.

The club left Paisley on Friday morning at 4.45am and travelled through to Edinburgh Airport for the start of the journey.

The flight being delayed for an hour failed to dampen the spirits of the youngsters. The group arrived in Prague and were met by Vundrle Jaroslav who provided the transport for the group for the entire trip.

The players were informed at 1.30pm that there was a slight change to the schedule and that they would be playing the Branik Prague academy football team. No time to settle into the holiday mood the team took to the field at 3.45pm.

In what was a clash of styles of play, with Branik playing a very strict off side game, Glens soon went in front after Matthew Fender was played through to beat the off side trap to put the Scots one up.

Glens were soon two up when the off side trap was beaten once again, this time Fender caught the keeper well out side his box and scored from 40 yards out. The visitors were always dangerous and it didn’t take them long to draw level.

The game was end to end stuff and finished five each with Matthew Fender getting a further two and Aaron Trench finishing the scoring. Glens had a terrific chance to seal it when Laurie McMaster went through the out coming defence but was tripped as he went into the box;

unfortunately, Laurie failed to convert the spot kick.

Monday morning before the flight home the team were invited to play the youth team of AC Sparta Prague, at the brilliant training facilities of Sparta. Playing within the old Sparta Stadium on one of six pitches with the old terraces still in tact around them. 

After a slow opening, it was Gleniffer who went in front with a half volley from Matthew Fender, from an Aaron Trench cross.  The second half was similar to the first with both teams passing the ball on a bowling green like surface. 

This time some nice passing movement down the Gleniffer left hand side resulted in the ball being played into the feet of Matthew Fender who blasted the ball home from the edge of the box. With 12 minutes left on a very warm day, the young jags began to run out of steam, and Sparta managed to score two goals. A successful trip with the boys enjoying the marvelous surfaces that were provided by the Czech’s. Without the help of Sportrenfrewshire, this trip would have been a lot harder to organize, but that is one of the benefits of being part of the Sports council.  

Saturday 23rd August

Giffnock Swifts 1  Gleniffer Thistle 14s  3

Glens only took 5 minutes to open the scoring when a free kick was awarded just outside the Giffnock box, Aaron Trench put the ball down and fired the shot high into the net giving the keeper no chance. Giffnock came more into the game and looked

dangerous with set pieces, but the Jags defence handled the pressure well, with keeper Ben Stevenson in outstanding form.The second half saw Giffnock draw level after ten minutes when the solid defence slipped up and failed to clear the ball. But six minutes later it was Trench who put the visitors back in front when he latched onto a low cross and slipped the ball into the back post. Glens were then denied what seemed a good penalty claim, when Danny Kavanagh was upended in the box, but the referee thought otherwise. The match was put beyond doubt when Callum Stevenson beat three defenders just outside the box and slammed past the keeper. New boy Connor Macdonald hit a volley from 30 yards which rattled the crossbar and fell into the keepers arms. With eight minutes to go keeper Ben Stevenson made the save of the match when he stopped the ball from going in at the back post.Next week the team are at home to Girdle Toll. The team would like to wish Matthew Fender, Jack Murphy and Laurie McMaster all the best for the new season playing for Raith Rovers.

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