Spotlight on Drongan football heroes

Sep 30 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SPOT THE footballing heroes.

Kirk Broadfoot, Ryan Stevenson and Stewart Kean all appear in one of these photos.

And hopefully there are some future professionals in the other one.

For Drongan primary school has a long history of providing brilliant football players.

And head teacher John Crawford says this is one of his strongest squads since the days of Broaders, Stevo and Keano in the mid 90s.

For some of the little cuties at the school today are already involved in Ayr United, Kilmarnock and Celtic youth teams.

And they have already gained an envious reputation throughout Ayrshire and Scotland.

The team made it to national finals of the Fun Fours Festival, run by the SFA, in Edinburgh last year.

Mr Crawford, who is also director of football at Ayr United youth academy, said: “This is as good a group as we’ve had for years and I have high hopes for a number of the boys.

“There’s no doubt that the success of Kirk, Ryan and Stewart inspires the boys. They have all met the guys and they know that it’s possible to achieve great things.

“All three still keep in touch with me and their families still live in the village. In fact, Kirk’s nephew Justin Barr is in the current team.

“Stewart came along to our closing ceremony before the summer break this year and they have all given talks to the school on health and wellbeing.”

All three players have given their top team jerseys to their former head master.

Among the framed tops taking pride of place in Mr Crawford’s office are Kirk’s forest Scotland under 21s top and one of his Champions League Jerseys.

Mr Crawford was proud to be a guest of Kirk’s family when he played in the UEFA cup final in Manchester in 2008. Kirk scored for Scotland against Iceland the same year.

The now 27-year-old, started his career with Coyle Thistle before moving on to Valspar, Auchinleck Talbot and Queen of the South.

He signed for Hibs aged 16 and later signed for St Mirren, where he spent six years.

Interest in him came from both sides of the Old Firm but there was never any question Kirk would sign for his childhood heroes, where he remains.

Ryan, 27, shared a room with John Terry when the pair played at Chelsea’s youth academy.

He went on to make 72 league appearances for St Johnstone before signing for Ayr United in 2006.

He signed for Hearts last year where he plays – and scores – almost every week.

Stewart signed for Ayr United in 2001 and made 93 appearances, scoring 29 goals for the club.

He moved to St Mirren in 2004 where he stayed until 2008 when he moved to Dumfries club Queen of the South.

After spending last year at Greenock Morton, Stewart now plays for Stenhousemuir.