By IAIN KING

AN invincible season for a special group of Michigan kids who became US Youth Soccer National champions…in a campaign masterminded by a coach having the time of his Fife.

Dougie MacAulay, who moved to the States from his beloved Dunfermline back in 2001, is a diehard member of the North American Scottish Coaches Association (NASCA).

In 2024 this passionate Scotsman was at the helm of Detroit City FC South Oakland-Rouge 08 Boys as they navigated their way through an unbeaten season that none of those involved will ever forget.

In six rollercoaster months in 2024 Dougie crafted one of the great NASCA coaching stories from the State Cup to the Midwest Regional to the National Championship.

His team played 25 games, winning 20, drawing five and eventually being crowned champions of America with a 2-0 victory over Colorado-based Vail Valley SC in the President’s Cup Final on July 16 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas.

This week proud Scot Dougie will be among his own folk again as the NASCA membership meet up in Chicago at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

And when we all retire to the bar after the now famous NASCA Panel event the lifelong Pars fan will have a story to tell.

He smiled: “This is a special group of young players. They played great together and they kept finding ways to win or earn ties

“Whatever it took for us to advance to the next round. Whether that be a great save by our goalkeeper, a clutch goal, a blocked shot by one of defenders. These guys stepped up and were rewarded for it in the end.”

Any coach who helps guide their side to a National title knows the unique rigours they must face to grasp the trophy of a lifetime.

Games that mean so much crammed into gruelling timescales, in the States often a game a day over an energy-sapping tournament week.

That’s how it was for Dougie and his team and he reflected: “You know last summer I learned so much about myself and the players I was privileged to work with.

“You will win nothing without good hard-working players who simply never give up.

“I would have to say to say that my key learning as a coach was that in a five-game tournament, one a day if you are lucky to go the whole way, the recovery and game management is crucial.

“We looked at individual distances on players’ runs and playing time and we’d prepare with specially designed warm-ups.

“That made the difference in helping us to last the course.”

As he prepares to make the journey to the Windy City for the Convention, Dougie’s Pars are managerless and second bottom of the Championship back home.

He smiles ruefully: “I was lucky to see them when they were good.

“Still, I can’t wait to see everyone in Chicago, the Convention is always a highlight for me and I am fortunate to have attended them all and seen the growth of the NASCA organisation with the work and dedication our President Eric McAleer and all the boys have put in over the years.”