Stoneyburn boss Steven Sharp says the membership have been ‘humbled’ by the response to their inaugural Steven Macmillan Memorial Event.
The Fulshie hosted the occasion over the weekend with Armadale Thistle, Harthill Royal and Airdrieonians under-18s additionally competing with the hosts working out winners after defeating Thistle 3-1 within the closing.
Macmillan, who served because the membership’s secretary for over 20 years, handed away final yr on the age of 43. Sharp mentioned it was an emotional weekend and thanked the footballing neighborhood inside West Lothian for serving to to pay a becoming tribute to a membership stalwart.
On Saturday, Thistle defeated Airdrie 8-1 with Stoneyburn reaching the ultimate due to a 4-0 win over Harthill.
Royal grabbed third place due to a 4-2 victory over Airdrie the next day earlier than Stoneyburn lifted the trophy.
Lots of of supporters flocked to Beechwood Park over the course of the 4 video games to assist pay tribute to a West Lothian soccer legend.
Sharp mentioned: “The crowds through the two days have been unbelievable. It’s actual testomony to Steven that so many individuals have been there to help this event. I knew it will be busy however we have been all actually humbled by it. Steven was beloved by everybody and it wasn’t only a Stoneyburn factor.
“Everybody in West Lothian soccer knew him and knew the kind of character and man he was. It was a extremely emotional and humbling weekend.”
He added: “Soccer rivalry is simply 90 minutes on the park. Away from that there’s an enormous quantity of friendship and respect between the golf equipment in West Lothian.
“There’s good folks working golf equipment like Armadale and Harthill simply attempting to do one of the best for his or her neighborhood - and that’s precisely what Steven did for Stoneyburn over so a few years.
“We clearly had among the native groups enjoying however many extra made certain they'd representatives at among the video games or despatched effectively needs to the membership earlier than the weekend. It speaks volumes about Steven and soccer on this space."
Airdrie stepped in on the final minute after Livingston United have been pressured to tug out a few days beforehand with Sharp paying tribute to the membership and boss Rhys McCabe.
He added: “I can’t thank Rhys sufficient for what he did. To be very happy to step in on the final minute and put in a group that’s actually simply newly established is unbelievable.
“Rhys and Callum Fordyce (Airdrie assistant) are each from West Lothian so that they know the impression Steven had at this membership and soccer within the space usually. Stoneyburn will at all times be extremely grateful for his or her help make certain the event went forward.”
The Fulshie deservedly ran out winners after getting the higher of Armadale within the closing and whereas Sharp admits the outcomes have been removed from the important thing issue through the weekend, he admits it was maybe becoming that the trophy is being stored at Beechwood Park for the following 12 months.
He mentioned: “They have been friendlies and it’s nonetheless pre-season when outcomes don’t matter a lot however I believed over the event we deserved to win.
“It was great attending to have a good time with Steven’s household and possibly it actually simply meant to be that we’d be the first-ever winners of the Steven Macmillan Memorial Event.”
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