Extra-Curricular Activities School Sports Clubs

Extra-Curricular Activities

Sports

Going for Gold

In 2017 the School received two awards for the involvement of its pupils in sport within the School. The first was the Secondary School of the Year Award at the Aberdeen Sports Awards and the second was the Gold Award at the Sport Scotland School Sports Awards. We won these in respect of many different areas, the first of which was Physical Education within the School. The judges looked at our curriculum, at the activities done during PE, the home work-out and the social media accounts which have impacted the pupils both physically and mentally.

Another requirement which had to be met was the number of clubs in the school and the number of participants who attended these. 45% of the entire school body are registered and participate in active school clubs. In the school year 2016/17 the School was involved with fifteen local sports clubs to enhance school sport programmes. We have a strong link with the School’s Former Pupils’ Club.

There is a vast number of competitions and events which the School attends. We are successful at local and national competitions and we attend such events as the Aberdeen Youth Games, the Giant Heptathlon and Scottish Schools CrossCountry. We are also widely involved with the local primary schools. We have the annual Grammar Games and Health Week.

There are opportunities for leadership such as sports committees and young ambassadors, while over 65 pupils lead school sessions. The staff do career-long professional training to develop skills to lead our clubs. The PE staff run an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook account – the Facebook page has over 700 likes and our Instagram has over 700 followers. These are a key tool for recognising our volunteers.

We nominate staff for awards, such as Mr Ross Allan, PE teacher and Principal Teacher of Pupil Support, who won the City Council Star Award. The School has four facilities which clubs all over Aberdeen can access and use – the Games Hall, the small hall, the Swimming Pool and the Astroturf.

We are proud of our amazing achievements, as only two schools in the city have the Gold Award and we are the most recognised school in Aberdeen.

Kenzie Gibson & Jane Wilson S6

Football

S1 First Year of Football

Murray Hunter, Matthew McCaughtrie, Struan Linton and Alex Ross approached Mr B. Gibson to ask if they could take on the role of coaching the 2017/18 S1 Football team. Our first task was to pick a 16-man squad from the numerous pupils who would inevitably want to play football for Aberdeen Grammar School. We organised an informal S1 Football Tournament at which almost forty pupils attended. Splitting them into six teams we held a round robin tournament in which each team played each other, then we had a knockout section to obtain an overall winner. The boys and girls who attended this event all had a great time and enjoyed their first taste of football at AGS.

We then went on to organise a football trial in order to pick a final group of pupils who would go on to be part of the S1 under-13 football team. We reduced the initial number of almost 40 pupils down to around 19 from whom we would choose each team on a week-by-week basis.

We held a trial game between S1 and S2 School football teams where the S1s gave a good account of themselves and scored two very good goals against the S2 team. Even although the S1s ultimately lost the match the team kept going and showed great attitude and determination to try to beat the year above. This match helped the coaching staff greatly in identifying the S1 team players with an additional eight or so players who would all go on to play an important part during the season to come. The new S1 team gave a great account of themselves especially considering this was their first outing as a team together and for some of them this was their first 11-a-side match. Even though it was a defeat the boys chosen did not let themselves down and kept going right to the final whistle.

League Campaign

After the first team was chosen there is usually a training session to get the team prepared for playing together but Mr Gibson had already organised the first league match against Portlethen and there was no time to arrange and hold training. In the first competitive game the new S1 boys suffered a 6-1 defeat. Despite this result they picked themselves up and endeavoured to bounce back, winning their second match comfortably 4-0 in a victory over Northfield. This was then followed up by a 1-1 draw in the local derby against Harlaw Academy, who had just beaten Portlethen 6-2 the week before. So the boys where pleased with the fact they had managed to get a draw against an already competitive team. These vital points meant that the S1 team had qualified for the CNR International Division 1, meaning that they would have a chance to play against the best of their age group. Throughout the season the boys struggled to pick up points from the league matches despite their efforts and despite being extremely competitive

in every match. The team plays good football, and were the better side in most of their fixtures this season, but struggled to convert the pressure and possession into scoring goals and be clinical against lesser opposition. Overall the team put in a fantastic effort in their first season and there is a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

The Esso Cup

The team provided a terrific cup run this season which has shown their potential not only in beating teams who had previously beaten them but also sweeping aside opposition that were probably, on paper at least, better than us. In the Esso Cup the team really started showing that they had a strong mentality and a strong drive to win games. In the first round of the Esso Cup they were up against Hazlehead Academy where our team put in a terrific display and ran out 3-0 winners away from home. The team were eager to get their revenge when they were paired against Portlethen at home. The team found themselves 3-2 down with 15 minutes to go. With their attitude and commitment they fought back and were rewarded by scoring a late equaliser with four minutes to go. AGS were dominating the game but got a lucky break when Aiden Milne found space on the edge of the box and then placed the ball perfectly into the path of Gregory Robertson who slotted the ball home to complete an amazing come-back and to book their place in the Esso Cup Semi Final.

In this they faced Ellon Academy. AGS were confident about getting a good result and playing well, even although they were aware of the experience of the Ellon Academy side and knew that Ellon were a more accomplished side than ourselves. In the match AGS dominated Ellon, who didn’t threaten our goal very much and perhaps only had one or two long range shots along with a couple of forays into the Grammar half. The AGS dominance was rewarded when we took the lead early in the first half and led one nil at half time. We scored again early in the second half as Aiden Milne dispatched the ball into the bottom right hand corner. This goal seemed to finish the game off, as the Ellon players’ heads went down. The more Grammar pushed forward the more Ellon became tired and a slack pass gave Callum McGregor the ball who played in Jamie Strachan who fired home Grammar’s third goal and booked their place in the Cup Final. Ellon pulled one back late on but it was too little too late for the Aberdeenshire side who were outclassed on the day. Thanks go to the Ellon coach Graham Wilson for the photo above.

The Cup Final was played against Kincorth Academy, whom we had dominated in a league match but lost a late goal to see them snatch a point away from us and deny us a win in a game where AGS were really unlucky not to walk away with all three points. We were confident going into the Final and were dreaming of cup success, but this came to a crashing halt, as within 30 seconds Kincorth went in front through a fantastic effort from a free kick just outside the

box. We responded well by going up to the other end where Ethan Brown’s effort crashed off the cross bar, rattling the goal posts as well as the goalkeeper. From this, Kincorth flooded forward towards our end and were awarded another free kick. Again they scored, totally against the run of play, shaking the AGS team and leaving them slightly forlorn and dismayed. Just before half time Jake Blues forced through a driving run on the right side of the pitch and put in a terrific cross that found Aiden Milne whose shot was cleared off the line by the Kincorth goalkeeper. Kincorth then broke again and scored what would turn out to be a decisive third. AGS started the second half determined to turn the game around, but unfortunately they fell short and tired legs and tired minds played a part as they found themselves 6-0 down. But with two minutes to go Callum McGregor found the net after some fantastic individual play. This meant Kincorth ran out 6-1 winners, ending Grammar’s dream of winning the trophy. The whole AGS team put in a tremendous amount of effort and had numerous chances to level when the game was at 1-0. They could have been also been in front early on due to the amount of chances they had and when they were dominant, but Kincorth were worth the win, defending their goal well. It has to be said that the Kincorth goalkeeper played out of his skin and pulled off save after save to keep Grammar at bay in the opening exchanges. You could see that the team were all thinking “what do we have to do to put the ball in the net?” This is also a reflection of the match earlier in the season where Grammar beat Kincorth one all!

Overall the boys have had a tremendous season and should keep their heads held high. They always seemed to come up against teams that played their very best football against AGS and more than a couple of teams that could thank their goalkeepers for pulling off some incredible saves to deny this talented AGS team not only scoring more but winning more. They are a determined group of players, eager to right the wrongs of this season by doing much better in the league and the cups next season. The team have the ability and attitude to improve their performances and go on to start winning more games and eventually trophies. Next season the team will be coached solely by Struan Linton and Alex Ross as Murray Hunter and Matthew McCaughtrie will step away from this year’s S1 team and will take the new S1 team in the 2018/19 season. What will be the new S2 team next season therefore have a lot to look forward to and should be in the running to win some silverware.

Aberdeen Grammar Games

The Aberdeen Grammar School annual Grammar Games was, again, a huge success this year. A sunshine-filled day created a buzzing atmosphere which led to a great spirit with which to end the School year.

Hundreds of hopeful competitors spent the day running, jumping and throwing in order to gain House points. This year’s events included 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m races, long jump, shot put, and also high jump which had taken place in the Games Hall a few days prior to Sports Day. There were many notable successes in all the events, however Callum MacGregor of Melvin House stood out amongst all the other athletes and managed to grab the victory as the overall “Sports Champion”!

A tuck shop filled with snacks and drinks provided the much needed energy for competitors, teachers and spectators alike. From this a small profit was raised which will contribute to plans for a sports award night in the coming session.

Team spirit played a crucial part in this year’s Sports Day. This was made obvious by the countless pupils adorned in red, green and blue face paint who were cheering on all their fellow-pupils as the much anticipated House relays and tug of war took place.

As the end of the day neared the total points for each House were calculated. Byron House had snatched the victory. They were closely followed by Melvin House with Keith & Dun not far behind.

This event marked a great beginning to the inter-House calendar for the coming school year and talk of next year’s Sports Day has already begun.

Meg Stanger, S5