Carluke teen misses out on football final

Jul 1 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

A CARLUKE teenager who skippered Team Lanarkshire’s football players to a silver medal at last week’s International Children’s Games (ICGs) in Athens missed out on a final berth after being the victim of a malicious off-the-ball challenge in the semi-finals.

Dean McLean was part of the successful side who went unbeaten throughout the tournament before his teammates agonisingly lost a penalty shoot-out in the final to Slovenian side Pesnica.

The 14-year-old captain was stamped on by an opponent whilst lying innocently on the ground during his side’s last four clash with Bangkok.

Not only did the resulting injury rule McLean out the final, it also denied Team Lanarkshire the option of using a substitute which could have proved the difference in the six-a-side tournament.

The controversial incident failed to detract from what was a highly successful week for Team Lanarkshire athletes at the ICGs that were this year hosted by Athens.

Overall the team collected an impressive haul of seven medals.

McLean helped his side record a perfect 100 per cent record in the group stages of the football tournament as they topped Group D scoring 17 goals and conceding just four in their three matches.

This secured a semi-final place against Bangkok of Thailand who themselves cruised through Group B winning all four games.

However they met their match in the semi-final going down five goals to three against Team Lanarkshire.

Without the presence of captain McLean, the Lanarkshire squad of seven were down to the bare bones for the final with just six players fit enough to compete.

They bravely held Pesnica to a 1-1 draw before succumbing 4-3 on penalties.

The gold medallists had already proved their worth from the spot after defeating home favourites Athens 6-5 on penalties in the semi-finals.

Elsewhere Team Lanarkshire girls’ 4x100m relay team destroyed the rest of the field to win gold in a time of 49.7 seconds.

As well as helping the relay squad to glory, Rachel Whittle, daughter of former Scottish track star Brian, scooped a bronze medal in the high jump and also ran 12.46 seconds in the 100m final to take silver.

Callum Baxter, 15, secured a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle swimming event and Lynn McArthur won two bronze medals in the 50 and 100 metres backstroke races.

Councillor Jim Smith, Co-Chair of Lanarkshire 2011, which will host the next ICGs, praised the team for their success.

He said: “Every member of Team Lanarkshire gave excellent performances in Athens and were excellent ambassadors for their sport and Lanarkshire.

“They all enjoyed competing at the highest level and will be able to use that experience to develop further in their sport. I would like to congratulate our medal winners on their outstanding success in proving themselves to be among the best in the world in their sport.”

Team Lanarkshire were Scotland’s only representatives at this year’s games and were competing against some of the world’s finest young athletes in track, tennis, football and swimming.

More than 1500 athletes from 36 countries took part in the games in Athens.

Lanarkshire will be hosting the International Children’s Games in 2011.