Scottish Cup success for Bonhill pan-disability team Vale FC

Bonhill pan-disability football team, Vale FC, have won the Pan Scottish Cup with their manager describing the achievement as ‘once-in-a-lifetime-stuff’.

The side, formed by Bonhill man Alan Skelton and school pals Connor McFall and Cameron Bonner in 2012 while at Vale of Leven Academy, took home their first ever Pan Scottish Cup in Falkirk on Sunday, August 14.

Vale FC defeated Dalkeith Thistle in the final 1-0 after a stunning free kick from David Singleton in the seventh minute, which he battered through the wall and into the roof of the net to give the Bonhill boys the lead.

The team would hold onto their lead, even guarding the ball in the corner at one point, to take home the victory, making sure rivals, Dalkeith, didn’t win the cup for their fourth straight year.

Manager and co-founder, Alan Skelton commented on what he has described as one of his greatest achievements, he said: “It was remarkable. The Pan Scottish Cup is the equivalent to our Champions League, it’s different gravy and it’s once-in-a-lifetime stuff. That’s how important it is for us, it is one of our greatest achievements.

“It was pretty surreal at the time and it still is now. It hasn’t sunk in yet, and I don’t think it ever will.

“We always turn it on at tournament level, we have won the Blantyre Tournament title twice. In tournament football as a whole, we have played 18, scored 66, conceded five, won 16, drew two and lost none.

“However, the final was pretty tense, and hard on the nerves.”

Alan’s nerves were at breaking point in the semi-final when they faced St James, who had won Group A, whereas Vale FC had gone through runners-up of Group B.

To finish runners-up Vale FC beat Claremont Colts 3-0, Firhill City 7-0, and Motherwell 9-0, as well