Inaugural Academy Day

Today we welcome players, parents, coaching and scouting staff from the Academy to today’s game as we celebrate our inaugural Academy Day.

It has now just been over a year since the club took the decision to withdraw from Fife Elite and have their own academy as part of the SFA Club Academy Scotland programme.

Already we have begun to reap the fruits of doing so. 5 U18 players; Michael Beagley, Jake Rennie, Taylor Sutherland, Andrew Tod and Sam Young are on full time contracts as Modern Apprentices. Whilst their main diet of games is accessed through the U18 team, they all have played some part in both Reserve and First Team matches. Other players from the U18 team have made appearances with the reserve team and performances as well as results in these games have been encouraging.

Today at half time the players and staff will parade round the pitch and hopefully our supporters will take the opportunity to show their support via a round of applause as they do so.

Also at half time, one our Supporters Groups are showing their support for the Academy in financial terms by handing over a cheque to help fund the multitude of activities that go on with the players on a weekly basis. Many thanks to DAFC.Net for the donation of £1000. The support is very much appreciated.

Before the game, senior Academy players will be in attendance at each of the turnstiles armed with empty buckets. Hopefully by the time the game begins these buckets will not be so empty! The bucket collection at today’s game for the Academy will help defray the costs the club incurs in being the only League 1 club who has an Academy in the SFA Performance and Performance Progressive Tier.

So as you make a donation as you enter the stadium today, look closely at the face of the academy player holding the bucket. Next time you see him as you sit in the stands, he just might be on the pitch wearing a Pars jersey. Your contribution will have helped make that possible.