Mill United are looking forward to this weekend’s Scottish Central League Regional Cup - when two of their teams compete for the same prize.
The Hamilton-based club have a renowned reputation for bringing through talented youngsters, most recently Jude Bonnar, who signed a pro contract at Celtic last year.
They’ve also had past and present Scotland midfielders Barry Ferguson, Lewis Ferguson and Peter Hartley come through their ranks, with their latest crop hitting high heights.
United’s A team play in the A League and meet the club’s Colts team - who play in the C League - for silverware this weekend.
Teams from across the central region have fallen to the Mill United teams. Alan Tait is club chairman and also coaches the A team while Martin Bell controls the Colts side.
Silverware is guaranteed for Mill United in what will be a huge achievement for the club, but what team it heads to will be decided at the John Cummings Stadium in Carluke this Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.
Tait hopes it’s his side that come out on top, but insists the overall achievement of getting two teams to the final is just as pleasing.
He said: “It’s a great achievement for the club and great for grassroots football in Hamilton. Eighty-odd teams went into the tournament and both of our U18s teams have made it to the final.
“It’s an age group where a lot of boys are stopping playing football, either due to exams, work or just losing interest in it. Both teams have done well to keep going during this season.
“Then you have Covid kicking in and it’s caused a lot of problems with a lack of numbers. I think both teams have done really well as it’s been tough.
“We are delighted the club will have a regional cup champion, and we also have our 2007s team in a cup final too. We have three Mill United teams in regional finals which is great.
“This will be a competitive game. Both teams will want to win, although I’d like to think there isn’t the same needle in this game as the boys know each other from school and places like that.”
The Colts team go into the clash off the back of winning their league on Saturday and are chasing a treble with the League Cup final against Westerton to come on June 4.
A spokesperson for the Colts team said: “We’ve never heard of two teams from the same club at this level being in a final before, so it’s a fantastic achievement.
“Our team are on for a treble this season so we are hoping to win on Saturday to keep that going.
“We are hoping for a good crowd and there will be a lot of parents coming along to cheer the boys on.
“It’s great for Hamilton as a town to have this as well.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
