Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) were delighted to deliver the National 5-a-side football Championships at Glasgow Green once again.
An entry of 45 teams from all over Scotland arrived at Glasgow Green to participate in the SDS/ SFA National Championships to determine which team can claim bragging rights for the 5-a-side format for the year ahead.
David McArdle of the SFA organised the programme for the event and it was heartening to see 7 sections represented on the day, an increase of 2 from 2016. The combining of A Class and B Class players in the Premier Division has allowed teams a much more competitive environment and accommodates teams that would otherwise not play many matches.
It proved to be a very successful tournament, once again, for teams from the West of Scotland, with 6 out of the 7 competitions being won by teams from this region, demonstrating the strength of the clubs and players in this area. Glasgow Firhill emerged victorious in the Premiership division defeating Highland in the final in a repeat of the previous two year results, Claremont Colts defeated last year’s champions Blantyre to win the Championship title, however Blantyre dominated the League 1 section with both their teams reaching the final. Claremont sealed the League 2 title with Glasgow Ladies seeing off Dundee’s St James in the female section.
Carrongrange schools a terrific event this year as their A squad took the A title with victory over Lothian in the Junior A section. Glasgow’s talented Abercorn team just proved too strong for them in the Junior B section, however.
Scottish Disability Sport and the Scottish Football Association are grateful for the input of Brian Martin for providing officials, and to Phil Storrier and the students of Kelvin College for their unstinting support throughout the day.
The next football national event will take place at Toryglen in September.