On Monday 1st August a squad of 18 Players departed from Aberdeen for Esbjerg to participate in the U15 Scandinavian Iber Cup under the guidance of U17 coach Scott Anderson and Head of Youth Academy Neil Simpson.
Also joining the squad were support staff Sport Scientist, Paddy Maughan, Physio Stephanie Lehane, Analyst Kieran Cruickshank and Education Officer Allan McKimmie. The prestigious Iber Cup tournaments take place in numerous locations world-wide hosting teams from the best Youth Football Academies in Europe, Asia and the Americas. On this occasion 16 teams were entered into the same competition as the young Dons, who were drawn in pool C with Norwegian Teams Baerum SK, Snaroya SK and Sundby Boldklub from Denmark. First up was Baerum SK. The Norwegians were a well organised side but Aberdeen took the lead with a well-placed strike by Jack MacKenzie found the far side netting. The Norweigans responded quickly with two quick goals resulting from a corner and then a well-placed ball, fed in over the top of the defence. The young dons showed good character and full back Jack Chesser played a well-timed volley from a corner to secure a second goal to level the match and that is how the match ended. The following day, Aberdeen were up against the second of the two Norwegien sides, Snaroya SK. Aberdeen got off to a flying start and scored three goals in the first five minutes. Ethan Ross opened the scoring, when he took advantage when the opposition goalkeeper fumbled the ball and left Ethan with a tap in from six yards out after only two minutes. The dons doubled their lead 2 minutes later when Sean Linden crossed the ball from the left which Lewis Duncan ran on to and slotted the ball home from six yards out. Aberdeen were flying by this point and found themselves three up within a minute of the restart when Jack MacKenzie found the top corner of the net while under pressure from the opposition. The fourth goal came at twelve minutes when Lewis Youngson linked up effectively with Ethan Ross, who played the ball to one of the younger players in the squad, Kieran Shanks who curled the ball in to the net from outside the box. The boys were unfortunate not to score more and conceded a late penalty, when Snaroya SK produced some good play down the left side and were fouled in the box. Final score 4-1 to the Dons. On Thursday morning, Aberdeen went in to their final group match against Sundby Boldklub, knowing that a win or draw would be required if they were to make it to the quarter finals, but found themselves a goal down at the end of the first half for the first time on the tournament when a free kick stunned Aberdeen’s goalkeeper and into the top corner. Jack Chesser got the Dons back on track early in the second half when he found the back of the net from outside the box, after some good play from Nathan Meres down the wing. Two minutes later the Dons took the lead through Andrew Watt, after the ball went loose after an Aberdeen corner and he slotted the ball into the net. Connor Barron scored the third on 42 minutes when he volleyed the ball in to the net after, Nathan Meres broke into the box from out wide. 3-1 to the young Dons, who finished top of the group by 2 points and they were through to the quarter finals to play another Norwegian team; Follo FK, who had finished second to Liverpool in pool A. Aberdeen took the lead in Friday morning’s quarter final match through Kieran Shanks. The Dons were awarded a penalty after the ball came off the hand of a Follo FK player in the box. Cameron Beattie stepped up to the spot, but the Follo keeper made an outstanding save only for Shanks to pounce on to the rebound and slot the ball home. Ethan Ross scored the second when, the goalkeeper palmed away a cross by Jack Chesser, and he pounced on the rebound. Follo FK scored on 39 minutes when a defensive mistake allowed them through on goal. This lead to a tense last 10 minutes, but the Dons held out for a 2-1 win which saw them through to the semi-finals later that day. The semi-final saw Aberdeen line up against their fourth Norwegian opponents, Sandnes Ulf who had topped the table in pool B. The dons took the lead on 12 minutes when Sean Linden opened the scoring after Nathan Meres produced a great display out wide. For the 2nd goal Connor Barron crossed from the left and found Ethan Ross in the box who slotted the ball home for his third of the tournament. With no more goals in the second half, Aberdeen won 2-0 and were through to the final where they would to meet the dominant Liverpool FC who had already scored an impressive 26 goals in the tournament. The final on Saturday morning against Liverpool was broadcast live on the internet and was viewed by fans from across the globe. Aberdeen took a an impressive lead within five minutes when Lewis Youngson drilled the ball in off the post from 20 yards out to shock the Englishmen. The experienced Liverpool side fought back to even the scoring just before half time. Aberdeen put on a valiant performance in the second half but conceded a further two goals and the final finished with the young Dons losing 4-1. Neil Simpson commented: “The Iber cup was a well organised and respected tournament with quality opposition and facilities to match. The format of the competition provided an excellent learning experience for players and staff, and gave everyone involved the opportunity to prepare tactically for matches and play in a highly competitive environment. Although it was disappointing to lose the final to Liverpool FC, it was a fantastic achievement going all the way to the final. The players and staff can be very proud of the weeks work.” The club would like to thank the parents and following sponsors for their funding towards the team attending the trip: Electro-Tek Cock & Bull N&MLD Ltd. JG Ross Acron Industrial Services Hendry Hydraulics Ltd. Freight & Co. Hollywood Cars Klinger Meldrum Afterschool Klub
Also joining the squad were support staff Sport Scientist, Paddy Maughan, Physio Stephanie Lehane, Analyst Kieran Cruickshank and Education Officer Allan McKimmie. The prestigious Iber Cup tournaments take place in numerous locations world-wide hosting teams from the best Youth Football Academies in Europe, Asia and the Americas. On this occasion 16 teams were entered into the same competition as the young Dons, who were drawn in pool C with Norwegian Teams Baerum SK, Snaroya SK and Sundby Boldklub from Denmark. First up was Baerum SK. The Norwegians were a well organised side but Aberdeen took the lead with a well-placed strike by Jack MacKenzie found the far side netting. The Norweigans responded quickly with two quick goals resulting from a corner and then a well-placed ball, fed in over the top of the defence. The young dons showed good character and full back Jack Chesser played a well-timed volley from a corner to secure a second goal to level the match and that is how the match ended. The following day, Aberdeen were up against the second of the two Norwegien sides, Snaroya SK. Aberdeen got off to a flying start and scored three goals in the first five minutes. Ethan Ross opened the scoring, when he took advantage when the opposition goalkeeper fumbled the ball and left Ethan with a tap in from six yards out after only two minutes. The dons doubled their lead 2 minutes later when Sean Linden crossed the ball from the left which Lewis Duncan ran on to and slotted the ball home from six yards out. Aberdeen were flying by this point and found themselves three up within a minute of the restart when Jack MacKenzie found the top corner of the net while under pressure from the opposition. The fourth goal came at twelve minutes when Lewis Youngson linked up effectively with Ethan Ross, who played the ball to one of the younger players in the squad, Kieran Shanks who curled the ball in to the net from outside the box. The boys were unfortunate not to score more and conceded a late penalty, when Snaroya SK produced some good play down the left side and were fouled in the box. Final score 4-1 to the Dons. On Thursday morning, Aberdeen went in to their final group match against Sundby Boldklub, knowing that a win or draw would be required if they were to make it to the quarter finals, but found themselves a goal down at the end of the first half for the first time on the tournament when a free kick stunned Aberdeen’s goalkeeper and into the top corner. Jack Chesser got the Dons back on track early in the second half when he found the back of the net from outside the box, after some good play from Nathan Meres down the wing. Two minutes later the Dons took the lead through Andrew Watt, after the ball went loose after an Aberdeen corner and he slotted the ball into the net. Connor Barron scored the third on 42 minutes when he volleyed the ball in to the net after, Nathan Meres broke into the box from out wide. 3-1 to the young Dons, who finished top of the group by 2 points and they were through to the quarter finals to play another Norwegian team; Follo FK, who had finished second to Liverpool in pool A. Aberdeen took the lead in Friday morning’s quarter final match through Kieran Shanks. The Dons were awarded a penalty after the ball came off the hand of a Follo FK player in the box. Cameron Beattie stepped up to the spot, but the Follo keeper made an outstanding save only for Shanks to pounce on to the rebound and slot the ball home. Ethan Ross scored the second when, the goalkeeper palmed away a cross by Jack Chesser, and he pounced on the rebound. Follo FK scored on 39 minutes when a defensive mistake allowed them through on goal. This lead to a tense last 10 minutes, but the Dons held out for a 2-1 win which saw them through to the semi-finals later that day. The semi-final saw Aberdeen line up against their fourth Norwegian opponents, Sandnes Ulf who had topped the table in pool B. The dons took the lead on 12 minutes when Sean Linden opened the scoring after Nathan Meres produced a great display out wide. For the 2nd goal Connor Barron crossed from the left and found Ethan Ross in the box who slotted the ball home for his third of the tournament. With no more goals in the second half, Aberdeen won 2-0 and were through to the final where they would to meet the dominant Liverpool FC who had already scored an impressive 26 goals in the tournament. The final on Saturday morning against Liverpool was broadcast live on the internet and was viewed by fans from across the globe. Aberdeen took a an impressive lead within five minutes when Lewis Youngson drilled the ball in off the post from 20 yards out to shock the Englishmen. The experienced Liverpool side fought back to even the scoring just before half time. Aberdeen put on a valiant performance in the second half but conceded a further two goals and the final finished with the young Dons losing 4-1. Neil Simpson commented: “The Iber cup was a well organised and respected tournament with quality opposition and facilities to match. The format of the competition provided an excellent learning experience for players and staff, and gave everyone involved the opportunity to prepare tactically for matches and play in a highly competitive environment. Although it was disappointing to lose the final to Liverpool FC, it was a fantastic achievement going all the way to the final. The players and staff can be very proud of the weeks work.” The club would like to thank the parents and following sponsors for their funding towards the team attending the trip: Electro-Tek Cock & Bull N&MLD Ltd. JG Ross Acron Industrial Services Hendry Hydraulics Ltd. Freight & Co. Hollywood Cars Klinger Meldrum Afterschool Klub
