On Friday Aberdeen U18s play Ayr United in the Scottish FA Youth Cup semi-final at Cormack Park, with a 6.30pm kick-off.
Defender Kai Watson has helped the Young Dons reach the last four, after a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock and a 3-2 victory over St Johnstone – but the scorelines don’t tell the whole story! Kai has played a big part in brilliantly marshalling makeshift defences through the last two rounds as the Dons suffered early red cards in both.
We’ll come back to those games later, but we should note first that Kai knows just how important the Youth Cup is at this club – after all, he’s an Aberdeen fan through and through.
“I was an Aberdeen fan growing up. I went to a few games when I was very young so can’t actually remember my very first game, and then would go along to Pittodrie more regularly when I got a bit older. I would sit in the Merkland Family stand. It is a little different now with the Red Shed. It is a little strange to think I would sit and watch Jonny Hayes!
“I grew up in Portlethan and went to Portlethan primary school before going to the SFA performance school at Hazlehead. I was 12 when I started with the Aberdeen FC Youth Academy, so I came in a little bit later than many of the others. I used to be a striker! In fact, I played everywhere apart from defence. I was a winger, striker, midfielder, but I kept getting moved back.
“When I came into the Aberdeen Academy on trial, I was playing as a striker for Westdyke. Jim Fraser came to my house to tell me about the trial and told me I would be playing centre-back. It was daunting at first. The biggest difference playing in defence is the physicality, but I was more developed than other players at that age so I was able to deal with the change comfortably. Before long I started to enjoy playing there and grew into the role.
“Getting my contract here was a great moment. The season before, I was not performing well for the U16s but in the winter, I moved up to training with the U18s under Barry Robson and Scott Anderson.
“From then, I started working really hard to show them what I could do. I made my debut for the 18s in January when I was still 16 and then got to play more games. I must have done ok as I then got offered a full-time deal. My family were very proud.
“It is tough when you first come into Cormack Park and have to train every day. It’s a shock to the system, but your body soon gets used to it, coming in early and having to work hard. My second season has been easier in terms of dealing with the fitness demands. The big difference is that suddenly, I’m now the oldest player in the team!
“As the other boys have gone out on loan, there has been a lot of responsibility placed on my shoulders. I need to try and show leadership. and drive the younger boys in the right direction. Last season, I would look up to the older boys so now having that role, I know how important it is. It has been good for my game as well.”
Playing in the Aberdeenshire Shield has also helped Kai’s game come on leaps and bounds this season.
“It is good experience playing against older players. It is a huge learning curve dealing with the physicality. I might not be as strong as the opposition, or is some cases as fast, so you have to be smart and work out ways to come out on top. You learn so much from every game.
“I have got fitter, stronger, faster. I am more aggressive. I’m not the tallest but can got my own in the aerial battles. A lot of defending is being able to read the game and anticipate what is going to happen. That is something I think I have got, but as a young defender there is so much to learn. I am learning every day. I am really enjoying my football at the moment. There is so much to look forward to for us this season.”
Above all things to look forward to is the Youth Cup. So far, so dramatic…
“The tie against Kilmarnock, we had a corner in the opening minute. Before we knew it, their keeper punted the ball long and Ellis took out their striker. It was a goalscoring opportunity, so it was a red card. Everyone was shouting and the first ten minutes after the card, our heads had gone a little bit, but we started to relax and get on with the job in hand.
“As a senior player in the defence, it was up to me get us focussed again. We got to half time at 0-0 and that was really important. The coaches could then give us some more instructions and at the start of the second half, we simply ran over the top of them. Looking back, we were playing against a very good side. Kilmarnock are pushing for the league title this season, so that 20 minute spell at the start of the second half was outstanding.
“In the quarter-final, we were thinking don’t get anyone sent off early! But the same thing happened again. Lewis Carrol was maybe a bit unlucky as he just clipped their player’s heels. This time though, because we had been through it all before, we got ourselves organised and together a lot quicker. We did not perform as well as we did against Killie, but we did enough to get through and that is all that matters in cup football.
“It really showed the character we have in this team. We also know the quality we have. We know we are a good team and no matter what the circumstances are, we know we can find a way to win. We had to be clever. We had to play smart football. We could not go after the opposition the way we normally would do. We had to sit in and then pick our moments. And when one person went to press, we had to do it as a team.
“We know how important a game this is coming up against Ayr United. It is massive. We know how important the competition is for the club. Everyone wants to do well. Everyone wants to get to Hampden. The opportunity is there for us.
“We know Ayr will provide a stern test, they are a good side but hopefully home advantage will help us. I think we have only lost one game at home at season. I was at Hampden earlier this season for the League Cup final as a fan. It would be very special getting the chance to play there.”
