CUMNOCK footballers have been chosen to represent Scotland in a tri-nations home international football tournament on Saturday November 1.

Scotland is hosting this year’s competition at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan in Fife. It will feature two teams of 14-16 year olds from Coalfields areas in Scotland, England and Wales.

The Premier Night League side from Cumnock will join fellow players from the Grange Night Lague in Kilmarnock to represent Scotland.

The Cumnock players who will compete as Scotland Thistles are: Kyle Smith, 16, Caleb McGhee, 16, Jake Baird, 16, Steven Easten, 15, Aqib Ali, 15, and Lyam Roberts, 16.

In 2009 the prestige 5-aside event was played at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre in Glasgow and the Scots notched up their best ever finish, losing out in the final to Wales.

Scottish Trustee and Vice Chair of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Nicky Wilson reckons a Scottish victory is long overdue.

Nicky said: “It would great for the Scots to lift the trophy on home soil but the fact is that every one of the 50 or so youngsters who take part are winners.

Steven Mair, the Scottish team manager and a Street Sport Manager with East Ayrshire Council, said: “We believe we have selected a cracking group young players to don the Scottish jerseys.

“They are all thrilled to be representing their country and they are a great bunch of lads who will do the occasion proud”.

Peter McNestry, Chair of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “The CRT is particularly concerned with helping young people.

“It’s not just about jobs or training. It’s about quality of life and giving them all the challenges and opportunities they would have enjoyed if the coal industry had continued and kept everyone in employment.

“The players representing their countries will remember the occasion for a very long time. We hope in many ways it will change lives, by widening youngsters horizons, as it has in the past”.

Once the destination of Coalfields Home Internationals Trophy is decided the boys will be whisked off to a Scottish Cup first round tie between Stenhousemuir and Brechin.