Ayr United babes win Scottish call-ups

Dec 26 2008

TWO players with the Ayr United Football Academy under 19 squad have been selected for the Scottish Schoolboys squad at under 18 level to play against the other home nations next year.

Under 19 captain Paul Leighfield and midfielder Aaron Scoular both came through the trials held by the Scottish Schools and will be included in the squad for the internationals against England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Leighfield, who is the first schoolboy from Moffat Academy to gain international recognition, is a central defender whom under 19 coach Malky Boyle rates very highly.

He said: “Paul is a very strong defender and a great organiser at the back. He is an exceptionally good communicator which made him the ideal choice when we were looking for a leader on the park at the beginning of the season and it is a role he has revelled in.”

Scoular is a central midfielder and attends James Hamilton Academy in Kilmarnock. A silky player, the 17-year-old is very much one for the future according to his coach. Boyle said: “Aaron is a very skilful yet powerful midfielder who I prefer to play in the central midfielder role but who is also not out of place in a wide left position.

“ There is no doubting his talent and he is a player of whom I have very high hopes if he continues with his development.”

Academy head of youth development Mark Shanks added: “I am delighted for both Paul and Aaron who have both worked very hard at their game to get this opportunity and hopefully they will go on to become the first players from the Ayr United Football Academy to go on and gain a schoolboy cap at this level.”