Kirkcaldy boy signs for Hearts
Anthony McDonald, a former St Marie’s Primary pupil, will join the club as a full-time professional in the summer as part of the Riccarton under-20 squad under coaches Jon Daly, Andy Kirk and Liam Fox.
Anthony started at Real Fife in 2009 and moved to Livingston in 2011. A year later, he joined Hearts youth acadmey, where he has been ever since.
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Hide AdJust after his 15th birthday last year Anthony became the youngest player ever to feature in the SFA Youth Cup Final at Hampden Park.
He was selected to play for Scotland at a year above his age group in 2015 when he went to Serbia to compete in a tournament.
He has since played in the Victory Shield at U16 level in October\November last year.
Anthony, who is enrolled in the SFA Performance School program based at Broughton High in Edinburgh, plays regularly for Hearts U20s side, which pits him against players a lot older and stronger as well as full time professionals.
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Hide AdRoger Arnott, academy manager at Hearts, described Anothony as an “attacking midfielder who can play centrally or in off the right side”, adding, “he’s left-footed and technically very good in one-versus-ones.
“He runs at people, has good awareness of the game and scores goals.”
Last week at Tynecastle, the club held a dinner to celebrate the boys coming through the academy and signing their first professional contracts.
The event was attneded by Ann Budge, the owner, director of football Craig Levein and first team manager Ian Cathro.
Another three Fifers were among those signing on, namely Christopher Hamilton and Jay Sandison, both from Kelty, and Connor Smith from Cowdenbeath.