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From the Scotsman:
McClair's starlets arrive for birthday bash date
EDINBURGH CITY celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, and play host to exalted company on Sunday when they take on Manchester United.
The Old Trafford youth team will face the East Seniors Premier Division side at Meadowbank, kick off 3.00pm.
Brian McClair, the former Celtic player and Scottish internationalist, is the coach of the team and guided them to victory in last season’s FA Youth Cup when they beat Middlesborough in the final.
When Edinburgh City was founded in 1928, it was felt that a city the size of Edinburgh, with its academic and medical connections, could easily provide the athletic spirit and talent necessary to maintain a strong squad.
But it is doubtful if those original founders would have entertained the idea of taking on a club in years to come with the pedigree of Manchester United.
Youth development has played a pivotal role in United’s success story. FA Youth Cup victories, and there have been nine of them, have laid the foundations for the most successful of the Old Trafford outfit’s teams.
Sir Matt Busy’s talented young side won the inaugural FA Youth Cup in 1953. The 60s were in full swing when George Best inspired the 1964 team to victory. The squad which won the cup in 1992 included David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the United fans can expect more of the same from this current squad.
"We would be disappointed if it was only two of this year’s youth team who made it through to the first-team pool," he said.
"The whole history of Manchester United has been generated by the influx of young players over five decades."
The squad for Sunday’s game will include youngsters Chris Eagles, Ben Collett, Sylvan Blake, Paul McShane, Luke Steele and Graeme Port, who has represented Scotland at under-18 level.
They may be the stars of United in years to come and the Edinburgh footballing public have a unique opportunity to see them in action.
The man who is charged with trying to ensure that United do not overwhelm Edinburgh City is manager Tom Steven who has just taken over the role at Meadowbank.
Steven played with Hibs, Berwick Rangers and East Fife as well as having a successful career in Australia. As a manager he has had spells at Cowdenbeath, Craigroyston and Harthill and is now determined to lead Edinburgh City to glory. "I am happy with the way pre-season training and the way games have gone so far," he said.
"We gave a good performance against a strong Livingston side and did very well against Berwick Rangers last weekend.
"We are going out against Manchester United to put on a good show. We know that the United players will be of the very highest quality. The bottom line is that any 19-year-old playing for them has to be a very good player. I would think that most of them would be capable of playing in the Scottish Premierleague.
"It will be a very difficult game for us but my players are looking forward to playing against quality footballers.
"It will be a big test but I know that my players have enough about them to put on a good performance.
"It is probably stretching it to say we are as good as the Manchester United youngsters but we have some very capable players."
Steven has the best central defender in the East of Scotland league, Brian Foster, at the heart of his rearguard and it is an ideal opportunity for Foster to stake a claim for a place with a Scottish league side.
City also have Tadg Moriarty, who has had experience with Celtic and Stirling Albion, in their line up while Chris Nye, a striker who was with Armadale, is a lethal predator.
It promises to be an entertaining afternoon and tickets are still available. They can be bought from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Office, 180 High Street, or direct from Meadowbank Stadium.
Tickets will also be on sale at Meadowbank on Sunday from a ticket booth outside the ground. The price is £10 with concessions costing £5.
A special 32-page souvenir programme will also be available so the message from Edinburgh City is - get there early for the biggest match in their 75-year history.
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