Player Profiles Past & Present
Maria McAneny 2004s
Maria joined EKYC aged 4. She has played ‘up a year’ with our 2003 team until 2017 when she will revert back to her own 2004 age group. This will allow her to play another year with the club along with the boys.
Maria is one of the best talents in Scottish girls’ football and has trained with Celtic Ladies first team, and played for Hamilton Accies U17s at only 12 years old.
Maria is a great example to all boys and girls of what can be achieved with talent, work ethic and self belief.
Jamie Herd 2009s
Jamie is not only an outstanding footballer but an excellent
example of how to behave in a team.
Since joining EKYC Jamie has attracted the attention of Rangers FC, and now complements his YC training and game time with extra coaching sessions at Rangers Youth Development Academy.
One to watch for the future!
Jamie’s favourites
Team mates : Alan O’boyle and Luke Wynn
Pro Player : Lionel Messi
Food : Pizza
Thing about YC : Playing games and scoring goals
Thing away from YC : Riding his bike
Tony Docherty (former player)
Tony was part of a tremendous EKYC team developed through the 1980’s by John McSherry and Denny Byrne. A very clever player, able to cut open the tightest of defences. After winning the League Cup in 1988, his efforts with the YC took him to Dunfermline Athletic, Stirling Albion and Albion Rovers.
Tony then embarked on a career with the SFA as a Football Development Officer, then onto Falkirk FC as a Community Coach. Working with top players and coaches like Ian McCall, Craig Brewster and former National team manager Craig Levein. Along the way, he met and formed what is now an outstanding managerial partnership with Derek McInnes, taking him to successful spells at St Johnstone FC, Bristol City FC and now top premiership team Aberdeen FC.
In March 2017, Tony was invited, by Gordon Strachan, to become part of the national team coaching staff, a real indication on how highly he is rated as a coach in our country. The club is rightly proud of what he has achieved.
Tony is still in touch with his former team mates, some of whom are now coaches at the club. Tony is now regarded as a top coach in the game and claims Messrs McSherry and Byrne taught him everything he knows . . . well some of it, maybe.
Rob McKinnon (former player)
Robert McKinnon was part of an EKYC team playing through the late 1970’s into the 1980’s. Coaching Robert’s team was his father, Robert Snr, who was an integral part of the club’s development through those decades.
Part of another successful EKYC team, Rob’s hard work and determination took him all the way in the game. From the junior level at Rutherglen Glencairn, through successful spells at Motherwell FC, Hartlepool Utd and Heart of Midlothian. Rob’s hugely successful spell at Motherwell gave him the ultimate accolade of being capped for his country. A playing career spanning 17 years, also took him to Newcastle Utd, Carlisle Utd, FC Twente Enshede
(Holland) before finishing his playing career at Clydebank, and then back to the junior ranks with Bellshill. During his years south of the border, Rob spent a short time at none other than Manchester United. Though not managing to claim a first team start, Rob’s qualities, clearly alerted the attention of a top team such as Man Utd, any school boy’s dream.
Rob was “a proud YC boy” and is proud of the players, managers and parents he met through the years.
Rob McKinnon is without doubt a player that EKYC is immensely proud of.
Alan Foster (Current Coach 2003s)
Alan (Babs) Foster was a member of the same EKYC, League Cup winning team, which included Eddie Jenkins (Kilmarnock FC), Tony Docherty (Dunfermline FC) and a host of other quality footballers.
Alan had, and some would maybe say still has, a wand of a left foot. The current 2003 team which he currently coaches, may be able to verify that.
Alan went into junior football with Kilsyth Rangers after leaving EKYC and was then snapped up by Dumbarton FC, where he spent 6 years before returning to the junior ranks and was a member of the Renfrew 2000/01 Scottish Junior Cup Winning Team.
Alan continues to be a great influence in the Club. He has a great enthusiasm for the club and is always available with advice and encouragement. Another former player who has gone full circle in the game and come back to bring something to the club.
Diarmid McCreadie 2007s
Diarmid joined EKYC 2007 team when he was 5 years old after spending a year with the EKYM academy. As the two clubs merged, the kids from the YM filtered into their respective age groups at EKYC. Diarmid quickly settled and immediately began playing Fun Fours with his new team mates, who he now recognises as “my best friends”.
With a wonderful left foot, he thrived in the “game environment”. Diarmid was fortunate enough to be asked to train with Rangers FC in their Football Development Academy. He spent 18 months training with the best young talent from the central Scotland. This complimented his training and match play with EKYC.
Diar
mid lists as his favourite moments with YC to date as, winning Player of the Tournament at the Reamonn Gormley Memorial Tournament in 2016 (pictured) and “every time we beat EKFC”.
Diarmid’s favourites
Team mates : James
Pro Player : Jimmy Johnstone
Food : Burritos
Thing about YC : Watching the younger kids
Thing away from YC : Go Karting
Grace Nelson 2010s
Young Grace joined our 2010 team in 2015 on its very first training session. Immediately Grace was at home on the training pitch. Not fazed by a team full of boys, Grace was quickly established in the group as a valuable team mate. She has great ability and determination which has made her feel at home when playing fun fours at Ravenscraig. Graces loves having fun with her team mates and coaches at EKYC and says her favourite coach is John… eh, a bit awkward. Oh and her dad! She loves to stand up for herself in the games against the boys and loves to listen and learn.
Grace’s favourites
Team mates : Conor and Ben
Pro Player : Leigh Griffiths and Scott Sinclair
Food : Pasta
Thing about YC : Passing and scoring goals
EKYC 