A Missed Goal

The Rotary Club of St Andrews has been running the highly popular Primary Schools Football Tournament for just under fifty years.

It would usually be taking part at this time of the year at Canongate School in St Andrews but in line with all other sporting events, sadly the club are unable to hold the competition, due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Members of the club however, thought it would be worthwhile to recall a few facts and occasions from past competitions.

Most years around 14 teams from all over North East Fife compete for the prestigious trophy, taking place, all in one evening, usually before it gets too dark! A couple of years ago however, due to both semi-finals and the final going to extra time and then penalties, it looked as though we would have to use car headlights to finish but just in time St Leonards won in their very first year in the competition.

Anstruther have won the trophy on more occasions than any other school, closely followed by Canongate and Lawhead. However, it is not only the larger schools which have won. Guardbridge won in 1986 for example and Wormit have been the most successful school over the last ten years. Greyfriars and Leuchars are always hard to beat and Crail, Pittenweem and St Monans have provided stiff competition and had plenty of skills on display.

In the early days, it was almost unheard of for any team to have a girl amongst them but recently every school usually has several girls in their squad and demonstrating that they can more than hold their own, against any boys (or girls!)

Organising and running the competition takes a great deal of time and dedication from club members but is one which brings a great deal of satisfaction and also as the baton of doing so, is passed down over the years.

The club are always grateful for the generous help provided by Fife Council, the staff of Canongate PS and the coaches and teachers from all the schools taking part each year. Not forgetting the referees who have a very busy evening overseeing around 12 to 14 matches each.

Sadly, it now looks impossible to hold the competition this year, due to the restrictions and the pressures that will be on schools in the Autumn term.

 However, the Rotary Club want to reassure everyone that the competition will be back next year and as the fiftieth anniversary approaches, perhaps we will add some appropriate feature to help celebrate the return of what is a great celebration of boys and girls football in North East Fife.   Keenly competed by many of the Primary Schools in the area