With the season just over half way through for most teams the Glens Academy finds itself in a great position with plenty to look forward to over the coming months.

As we pull away from Christmas and look towards the hectic Easter period and the closing few months of the season almost every age group has something to play for and is still well in contention.
Of course this is also the time of year when, after letting the players settle into the season, the coaches start to look at players who can push onto a higher age group for a few games at a higher level for some added learning and development.
A quick look at what the remainder of the season holds in store for the age groups highlights what an exciting time of year it is:
The Under 10s, now under the guidance of Iain Dickson, are sitting in third place in the league and have the League Cup to play for as they face Larne Youth for a semi final spot in the coming weeks.
The Under 11s, now being managed by Stephen Lowry, who stepped up from U10 to take the reins when Glen Quinn and his team stepped down for personal reasons, have made terrific strides in recent weeks. They were 6th in the table only a few weeks ago but now find themselves top of the league, two points clear of Ridgeway Rovers who have a game in hand. The U11 boys are also in the Quarter Final of the League Cup where they will face fellow title chasers Hillsborough Boys and the Quarter Final of the NIBFA Cup where they will play the winners of Larne Youth v Lisburn Distillery.
The Under 12s remain unbeaten in all competitions this season and, having won the Shield in January they are now also into the Quarter Final of the League Cup where they will face North Belfast United. This past weekend saw the U12s compete in two matches as they faced a top of the table clash with Portadown, drawing 1-1 to maintain the 7 point lead at the top of the table before facing Cliftonville at Solitude on Sunday morning in the last 16 of the NIBFA Cup. The boys booked their place in the Quarter Final with a hard fought 3-1 win at the home of the Reds.
Ian McKee’s Under 13s are also still unbeaten in the league and are three points clear at the top of the league and the wee Glens have played two games less than their rivals so find themselves in a good position. The boys are in the Quarter Finals of two competitions still as they face Banbridge in the League Cup and face a Junior Belclassico with Big Two rivals Linfield in the NIBFA Cup!
The Under 14s will face league leaders Lisburn Distillery in the Quarter Final of the League Cup having lost to the same opposition in the last 16 of the NIBFA Cup. The lads are fourth in the table and will fancy their chances on improving on last season’s third placed finish.
The Under 15s are 6 points clear at the top of the League and are enjoying a fantastic season under Glen Kitchen – they are also still in with a chance of winning the League Cup but they have a tough Quarter Final against Crusaders on the horizon.
Billy Moore’s Under 16 squad are currently 12 points clear at the top of the league and are unbeaten in the league this season, along with our own under 13s and under 12s and Lisburn Distillery’s under 14s they are the only unbeaten teams at this stage of the season in the Lisburn League. The team in second place in the league at U16, Lisburn Distillery, have enough games in hand to pull level with the wee Glens but they remain in a very strong position. They will also face Lisburn Rangers in the League Cup Quarter Final.
The Under 17s have rallied under David Walker and are starting to climb the table again and they will be hoping to finish as close to the top sides, Cliftonville and Crusaders, as possible – they have games in hand on all the teams above them and will be looking to make a charge up the table in the last few months of the season but more importantly they will be hoping to push players on to challenge for a place in Gary Smyth’s Colts side and have already regularly provided a lot of players for this team this season.

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