Legends pass on footie tips at Coca-Cola sevens

Apr 2 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

FORMER Scottish football greats Gary Mackay and Chic Charnley were at Almondvale last week to pass on some pearls of footballing wisdom.

But the former Hearts and Partick Thistle captains were overshadowed by possible soccer stars of the future during the second round of the Scottish School’s Football Association Coca-Cola 7s tournament.

The race to the finals, which began with more than 7500 pupils taking part, is really hotting up and last week the remaining eight school teams from West Lothian and Borders arrived at Livingston FC to battle for the chance of winning a place in the regional finals.

In the boys' tournament St Kentigern’s Academy, St Margaret's Academy, Galashiels Academy, Earlston Academy, Hawick High School and Broxburn Academy put up strong opposition but it was Linlithgow Academy and Peebles High School who secured their place in the next round of the 7s.

For the girls, Hawick High School will be heading to Stenhousemuir FC in April along with Galashiels Academy but all the teams: Inveralmond Community High School, St Kentigern's Academy, St Margaret's Academy, Linlithgow Academy, Selkirk High School and Kelso High School – provided entertaining and skillful football.

The East regional finals of the Coca-Cola 7s will be played in Tuesday, April 28.