Dumbarton fans looking for a football fix have been urged to cheer on the club’s under-18s in their first ever cup final this weekend.
The youngsters take on Giffnock SC at Renfrew Juniors’ New Western Park on Saturday, with kick-off at 2pm.
And coach David Lavery is hoping for a big Sons support to cheer on the colts, as they look to end their first season on a high.
David told the Lennox: “I know the boys will give 100 percent and I hope that we get a few supporters along.
“I came away from social media, but when we set up the youth system at the start there was a lot of negativity towards it not being pro-youth.
“I think we’ve proved the doubters wrong with how we’ve performed. Which is a real positive for the club.
“If we could get a support down to see what we’re trying to do then it would be great.
“We have a good standard of player and I hope we get a decent wee crowd along to support the boys.
“I’d love to have some of the Young Sons down.
“A good bit of backing with some colours and flags would be really appreciated by the boys and by myself.”
The club was formed last summer as part of a move that also saw Renton Craigandro’s under-17s squad taken into the Sons’ fold - as part of an agreement between the two clubs to help provide a pathway to senior football.
And that pathway is already bearing fruit, with two players from the U18 squad already making their top team debut for Stevie Farrell’s side.
Declan Breen was first to step up, playing the final minutes of a Challenge Cup defeat to Rangers B in August.
Then, in January, Luca Vata earned his chance - with the 16-year-old named in Stevie Farrell’s first team squad on a matchday 19 times, and making five appearances. This included a first start in senior football against Stranraer last month.
And David believes that Declan and Luca’s success is making more youngsters hungry to catch the eye of boss Farrell.
He continued: “Declan maybe only got 10 or 15 minutes in the Challenge Cup. But he was absolutely buzzing and you could see him taking his performances for us to another level.
“Luca missed most of pre-season last year because he had an injury.
“He came down to the trials with his brother, who is also a really good player but signed for Airdrieonians, and had to work really hard after pre-season.
“The other boys were a good four or five weeks ahead of him.
“He didn’t start many games for us at the beginning of the season.
“But when he got up to fitness you could see that his technical ability was levels above. Technically he is a very good player with a very promising future.
“Very few players at 16 have the ability that he has.
“I’m really proud of Luca; his effort, commitment and attitude towards football are all spot on. He lives and breathes it. Nobody deserves success more than him.
“I can turn round to the boys now and point to him as an example of the opportunities that there are.
“I think a lot of boys have bought into that when they’ve seen what he’s managed to do.”
And David added that a successful season in the fiercely competitive Paisley and Johnstone District has helped him fall back in love with the beautiful game.
He said: “We’ve competed really well in the strongest grassroots league in the area, and managed to finish above the Scottish Cup winners, Clydebank, which shows how good a season we have had.
“It was a really good season with a lot of positives. On a personal note, I have probably fallen back in love with football because of it as well.
“I was a bit disappointed with how things had gone with my previous team, but the boys we have here are
fantastic.
“I’ve spoken to Stevie Farrell a number of times and had been involved in discussions before I agreed to take the team. I had to know that there would be something tangible there to take it on.
“If it was just going to be a boys’ club wearing Dumbarton’s badge on the front of the strips then I wouldn’t have been interested. I made that clear from the beginning.
“It’s great to be giving these guys a platform.
“And hopefully we’ll go from strength-to-strength.”
Entry to Dumbarton U18s v Giffnock SC is £3 for adults and £1 for concessions. Kick-off is 2pm.
