After a fantastic day of football and raising money for local charities, Camelon Albion lifted the Inaugural Linlithgow Thistle Charity Tournament Cup at a sun-drenched Linlithgow Rugby Club.
Following a spirited and consistent performance across the full event, the Camelon team were handed the trophy and a bumper cheque for an amazing £865 for their nominated charity, Action for Children Scotland.
The day started with a league draw in front of all teams' management committees. The Upper Mains League drew out local rivals Bridgend Utd, Bo'ness Ams, Linlithgow Thistle and Brightons Ams in a so-called Group of Death. The Lower Mains League comprised Linlithgow Rugby Club Select, Stenhousemuir FC U19s, Stenhousemuir Ams and Camelon Albion.
After both leagues going to the final game to decide the winners and runners-up, semi-finals were played out between Linlithgow Thistle and Camelon Albion, and Stenhousemuir Ams and Bridgend Utd. With Camelon and Stenhousemuir teams being victorious, they then competed in a dogged final which ended in a 1-1 draw, with Albion eventual winners after penalties.
The full round-up of results were as follows:
Upper Mains League | Lower Mains League |
Bridgend Utd 1 v 0 Bo'ness Ams Linlithgow Thistle 0 v 0 Brightons Ams Linlithgow Thistle 0 v 0 Bridgend Utd Bo'ness Ams 1 v 1 Brightons Ams Bridgend Utd 1 v 1 Brightons Linlithgow Thistle 1 v 0 Bo'ness Ams | Linlithgow Rugby Club 1 v 3 Stenhousemuir Ams Stenhousemuir FC 0 v 1 Camelon Albion Linlithgow Rugby Club 0 v 4 Stenhousemuir FC Stenhousemuir Ams 2 v 0 Camelon Albion Linlithgow Rugby Club 1 v 3 Camelon Albion Stenhousemuir FC 0 v 2 Stenhousemuir Ams |
(Linlithgow Thistle beat Bridgend Utd on pens to win Upper Mains League)
Semi Finals
Linlithgow Thistle 1 v 3 Camelon Albion
Stenhousemuir Ams 2 v 0 Bridgend Utd
Final
Camelon Albion 1 v 1 Stenhousemuir Ams
(Camelon Albion won on pens)
The awards for Camelon did not end at the winning trophy, as Jamie Stanic scooped Player of the Tournament, as voted unanimously by participating team management and the referees. He also picked up the Top Goalscorer Award with his 4 goals.
However, charity was the outright winner on the day with the following cheques handed out at the presentation following the final:
Bo’ness Ams - £100 for Barnardo’s, Bo’ness
Bridgend Utd - £50 for Make a Wish Foundation and £50 for MND Scotland
Brightons Ams - £100 for CHAS
Camelon Albion - £865 for Action for Children Scotland
Linlithgow Rugby Club - £100 for CHAS
Linlithgow Thistle - £50 for LYPP and £50 for St Michael’s Hospital
Stenhousemuir Ams - £100 for The Beatson Institute
Stenhousemuir FC - £100 for The Braveheart Association
Linlithgow Thistle would like to thank Linlithgow Academy for the use of their mobile goals and also to the following sponsors, who made the event and charitable donations possible through their overwhelming generosity:
Detail, Bar Leo, Nordan, BMR, MS Joinery, Smith and Frater, Paul Gavin Photography, RK Stocktaking, Roberta’s Bistro, Bo’ness Building Services, Fotheringham’s Ice-Cream, Surridge, Thompson’s Solicitors and Solicitor Advocates, Riddell’s Garage, Janex, Malcolm Allan, Alan Steel Asset Management, MGW Seafoods and RJ Electrical Services.
Sincere gratitude is also conveyed to Martin Godley for providing Sports Therapy at the event and to Linlithgow Rugby Club for their permission to host the event on their pitches. The services and support provided by the Rugby Club on the day were exceptional. It is hoped that this new found friendship between Linlithgow Thistle and Linlithgow Rugby Club is extended into the future and breaks some of the barriers between football and rugby within the local community.