Monifieth Athletic

Monifieth Athletic is a youth football club in Monifieth, in Scotland. It is operated by the Dundee & District Youth Football Association (DDYFA). The football club is only for boys ranging from the ages of 8-16. They play at Riverview Park in Monifieth. This is also the training facility. Recently the changing rooms were bought from Angus Council. The boys now have facilities for changing and for the coaches to store equipment in.

The teams

Under 9s

This team is for boys who are eight years of age. They learn the basic football skills, using a Size 3 Football. They play a 7-aside game of football every Sunday against another local team.

Under 10s

The boys in this team, whom are nine years of age, continue to improve their skills. They are a little more organized as a team, as they begin to learn the structure of football games. They also use Size 3 footballs when training and playing their 7-aside game on a Sunday.

Under 11s

The ten year old boys in this team are continuing to improve their skill. They are involved in more tournaments than in previous years. By this time, the coaches are beginning to think about playing at 11-aside football, although on Sundays the boys still play at 7-aside. At the end of the year, the coaches sometimes have to shorten team sizes, for the leap into 11-aside football in the Under 12s. Towards the end of the year, the boys start to use Size 4 footballs.

Under 12s

The eleven year old boys are beginning to learn about co-operation on the football field. Their skills are normally average for their age. This is usually the year in which "scouts" from professional football clubs come to the games to observe the quality of the players. They will get in contact with the team's manager if they wish to sign a player, or look at them in further depth. The boys now play at 11-aside football and usually keep the same positions each week. They also play with a Size 4 football.

Under 13s

The twelve year old boys are starting to get used to football. In the Under 13s, the offside rules and bookings begin, and having a referee at each game is compulsory. The boys start to get a little more aggressive and determined to win.

Under 14s

In the Under 14s there are more tournaments and competitions to be won. Most of these tournaments have a cup to give out to the winning team. Football play is starting to level out slightly, in comparison to the previous year. Size 5 footballs start to get used.

Under 15s

Football play in the Under 15s is much the same as in the Under 14s, although the boys normally get a set team every week.

Under 16s

Football play in the Under 16s is much the same as the previous two years. The players are starting to realise their own potential.

Under 17s

This is the final season in which the boys can play for Monifieth Athletic. The coaches try their best to prepare the boys for football in the future. Some of the boys will go to professional, amateur or junior clubs, such as Dundee United F.C., Dundee F.C., St Johnstone F.C. or Carnoustie Panmure F.C..

Notable former players

Paul Dixon- Former Dundee F.C. player (2005–2008), Dundee United F.C. (2008–Present)
Stuart Abbot- Former Dundee United F.C. player (2003–2006), Carnoustie Panmure (2006–2008), Lochee United (2008–Present)
Neil Duffy - Former St Johnstone F.C. player (2007–2011), Peterhead F.C. (2011-Present) Scotland U19 (2010)