Home   Sport   Article

Persistence pays off as Charlie named in North squad


By Alan Beresford

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

IF at first you don't succeed, try, try again was Robert the Bruce's legendary wisdom from watching the spider, and for one young Buckie Community High School footballer, it has proved to be advice which has yielded dividends.

On the ball...Charlie Hay is looking forward to joining the North of Scotland squad.
On the ball...Charlie Hay is looking forward to joining the North of Scotland squad.

S5 student Charlie Hay (15), has gone into the October holidays with plenty to celebrate after learning he has qualified for a place in the North of Scotland squad for the forthcoming National cup contested between the various Scottish regions.

He ended up not needing too many lessons, though on the persistence, front, as he revealed.

"It feels really good to make the squad, I've been close before," he told the Advertiser.

"I've made it through to the under-15 reserves before and tried out for the seniors last season but didn't make it, so it's great to make it through to the full squad this time.

"There was a trial for the squad a couple of weeks ago at Millburn Academy where we were put into two teams and the squad was picked from that. I was a bit confident as I'd been before and knew the set-up and most of the folk there."

After the holidays Charlie will be more or less straight into action with his new team-mates, with a friendly against Aberdeenshire at th end of the month followed by competitive action. The cup is set up on a qualifying pool the knock-out stage format, with the North lads squaring up to opponents from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire for the right to take their place in a tie against one of the other pool winners.

He added: "We'll see what happens at the pool stage.

"Hopefully I'll get into the match squads and the starting 11."

His achievement was praised by BCHS PE teacher Colin Smith.

"It's brilliant for Charlie, a great achievement both for him and the school," he continued.

"He was one of five boys – the most we've ever sent at the one time, I think – who went from Buckie High to the North trials, although he was the only one who made it through.

"Charlie's been knocking at the door before but not quite made it to the full squad. We're all delighted that his persistence and commitment have paid off."

Charlie is not only a young man who needs no lessons in persistence, he is in not need of any serious piinters when it comes to winning, either.

He was one of the Buckie Boys' brigade team who brought the Scottish National Five-a-Side Cup back up the road, also staking a creditable third place spot in the UK-wide contest. He also captined the BCHS under-14 side who won the Moray League and Cup.

He currently plays for Elgin City's under-20 team and is hopeful of making the breakthrough to the senior squad in the not too distant future.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More