A BRIEF HISTORY OF SYNGENTA JUVENILES
FOOTBALL HAS BEEN PLAYED AT THE ICI RECREATION GROUNDS (NOW SYNGENTA), FOR MANY YEARS. HAVING HAD TEAMS COMPETING AT JUNIOR, WELFARE AND JUVENILE LEVELS. IT IS THEREFORE TRUE TO SAY THAT ICIHAS COMPETED IN ALL GRADES OF FOOTBALL EXCEPT SENIOR IN ITS LONG HISTORY.
DUE TO CHANGES WITHIN THE FACTORY, FIRSTLY FROM ICI TO ZENECA AND THEN ZENECA TO SYNGENTA. THE CLUB HAS HAD TO CHANGE NAMES TO SUIT AND ARE NOW CALLED SYNGENTA JUVENILES. THE LATE MR LES SKIGGS FORMED ICI JUVENILES IN 1960.
THE CLUB HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE IT WAS FORMED WITH ONLY 1 TEAM. SYNGENTA JUVENILES ARE NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST YOUTH FOOTBALL CLUBS IN THE COUNTRY AND HAVE TEAMS COMPETING AT AGE GROUPS FROM UNDER-8 RIGHT UP TO UNDER-19. WE ALSO HAVE A THRIVING NURSERY FOR CHILDREN UP TO 8 YEARS OLD.
OUR TEAMS FROM UNDER-13s UP TO UNDER-17 ARE ALL REGISTERED UNDER THE SCOTTISH YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. THIS SEASON OUR UNDER-13s ,UNDER 14s AND UNDER 16s UNDER 17's ALL PLAY IN THE CENTRAL SCOTLAND LEAGUE. THE UNDER -19's ARE PLAYING IN THE WEST LOTHIAN ASSOCIATION YOUTH FA. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ANY SEASON IS COMPETING IN THE SCOTTISH CUP AND IF POSSIBLE REACHING THE LATTER STAGES. TO DATE IN OUR HISTORY WE HAVE WON THIS COMPETITION ON FOUR OCCASIONS:-16s IN 1992/93, UNDER 18s IN 1993/94, UNDER 14s IN 1996/97, UNDER-16s IN 1997/98, UNDER 16's 2006/07
COMPILIED BY TREASURER WILLIE MCILVANEY
IF WE MENTIONED DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK YOU WOULD ASSUME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE BOYS. OUR ''OLDEST BOYS'' WILLIE MCILVANEY HAS GIVEN 38 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CLUB AND WAS RECENTLY AWARDED WITH A MCDONALDS/ SUNDAY MAIL GRASS ROOTS AWARD. WILLIE WAS PRESENTED WITH ''THE BEST VOLUNTEER IN CHILDRENS FOOTBALL 2005'' FROM A COUPLE OF GUYS ALSO WITH A FEW YEARS SERVICE BEHIND THEM. IT WAS A TREMENDOUS HONOUR FOR WILLIE TO BE PRESENTED WITH THE AWARD FROM SCOTLAND MANAGER WALTER SMITH AND KENNY DALGLISH AT HAMPDEN PARK AND ALSO ONE THAT HE RICHLY DESERVES.
WULLIE HAS NOW RETIRED FROM HIS ROLE AT THE CLUB BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAIN MAN AT THE JUVENILES. YOU CAN STILL SEE WULLIE IN ALL WEATHERS CHEERING ON THE DYES OF ALL AGES SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.