Thorn Athletic Under-17s manager Steven McKnight says he is “ecstatic” after his side secured a double quadruple.
The all-conquering Johnstone side romped to an emphatic 4-0 win over Dumbarton in the SYFA West Cup final at Renfrew’s sun-drenched New Western Park on Sunday.
A double from Nathan McLelland and further goals by Jay McKnight and Ethan Malcolm confirmed a perfect end to what has been a successful season for the talented age group.
McKnight said that he felt “proud” after watching his team put in a great performance against the Sons.
Speaking the Paisley Daily Express after being sprayed with water by his team, McKnight said: “The boys have had an amazing season. They won the quadruple last year but the only thing they didn’t win was the Scottish Cup.
“But they achieved that this year. They have kicked on and have won every final they have been in comfortably.
“I am extremely proud of all the effort the boys put in away from the pitch and it is the part that most people don’t see.
“Week in and week out they give me 110 per cent in training and are very committed to their football. A lot of boys are probably now moving on to professional clubs but I couldn’t be any prouder.”
McKnight’s side have made games at New Western Park their speciality as the gaffer admitted his side hadn’t lost a game there since November 2021.
Alongside the SYFA West Cup, the club also managed to secure the league, Scottish Cup and the League Cup, making it a trophy-laden campaign.
However, the target was always to be quadruple champions from the start of the season, according to McKnight, as he aimed for his team to win every competition in which they were participating.
He added: “At the start of the season, I set the boys the target of winning everything that they were in – and this year they achieved that.
“They have won every trophy and by far have proved that they are the best team in the country.
“Winning breeds confidence and they have not lost a competitive game here [at New Western Park] since November 2021. I am ecstatic at the level the boys have performed.”
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