The biggest ever Aberdeen FC Youth Academy awards night took place at the Beach Ballroom on Monday evening to celebrate another successful year for our young Dons.

At the end of another busy season for the Youth Academy all players from U10 to U16 were in attendance to receive a medal and a certificate, with individual awards for each age group also handed out.

Two graduates of the Youth Academy, Jack Milne and Alfie Bavidge, were on hand to distribute the awards.

Award Winners

Save of the Season – Theo Simpson – Aberdeen U16s for his save against Hamilton Accies.

Goal of Season – James Rutherford – Aberdeen U13s.

Andrew Cheyne Special Recognition Award – Jim Crawford. After many, many years of hard work and dedication to the Youth Academy across a number of roles, Jim was honoured last night as he retires from his work with the Youth Academy. Thank you once again for your incredible service to Aberdeen FC and to the Youth Academy, Jim!

Neale Cooper Awards:

U10 – Cailin Brown
U11 – Alexander Redford
U12 – Leo Ferguson
U13 – Calan Freeland
U14 – Ollie Elrick
U15 – JJ Hulse
U16 – Theo Simpson

Youth Academy Director Stuart Glennie spoke on the night:

“It is our first year away from Pittodrie stadium for the awards, but we have unfortunately grown out of Pittodrie and we wanted to provide the opportunity for more family members to attend.

“I want to reach out to all of our part-time staff across the Academy. From coaches to physios to volunteers to sports scientists to performance analysists to scouts to interns, these individuals very much go above and beyond and put in so much time and effort. Thank you to you all.

“There is a team of full-time staff that support me and they really have had to step up and undertake many additional tasks over the last number of months. They know who they are and hopefully they know how much I have valued their efforts. Mark, Calum, Jim, Kevin, Stuart Duff and all the U18s Support team. Kevin, Beth and Joe and all the Sports Science and medical team. Well done to all and thank you for all of your efforts.

“To the parents and guardians. I do realise how challenging, demanding, and at times stressful, it can be to be part of a club that requires 3/4 nights training and 1 or 2 games at a weekend. We really do appreciate the support you provide.

“Ultimately the success of our Academy will be judged based on the players that come through and play in our 1st team or move in a transfer to other clubs, such as Calvin Ramsay or Scot McKenna. I think we all know that. I think at Aberdeen Football Club we are more than that. It is about helping to develop young people.

“We are proud of players like Jack Mackenzie, Jack Milne and Alfie Bavidge who progress and play in our first team. However, we are also proud of other pathways that Academy players take. For example, here tonight we have two coaches, Andy Watt and Zack Ellis who were with the Youth Academy from a young age right through to U16s. Both left the academy and now play in the Highland League with Turriff United and Inverurie Locos. Andy also coaches in the SFA Performance School and Zack Ellis works as an External Engagement Coordinator with Aberdeen College.

“The main thing out of all this is not about the football, it is about how everyone of them has developed into very respectable young men that we are all proud of.”

Congratulations to all our award winners and a further well done to everyone involved in the Youth Academy on a successful evening and a great year.

Thank you to our host for the evening Andrew Shinie and to our sponsors for their continued support of the Youth Academy:

Ram Tubulars

Central Coaches

Fowler McKenzie

Amplus

TAQA

TEXO