Region's 4,000 young footballers prove our national sport is alive and kicking

Around 4,000 teenagers in Edinburgh and the Lothians took to football fields each week to contest 75 pieces of silverware from under-13 to under-19 age groups, and the region collectively maintained its status as one of the most progressive in the country with five of its members clubs appearing in – and four of them winning – Scottish Cup finals.

At under-13 level, Tynecastle were one of those select group of sides to be crowned national champions, defeating local rivals Hutchison Vale 4-3 on penalties at Airdrie following a 1-1 draw. Budding footballers of this age are experiencing their first taste of the 11-a-side game, and both Tynie and Hutchie made a seamless transition to dominate the domestic scene.

Although their Saughton-based counterparts prevailed in "the Scottish", Vale finished first in a competitive Division 1 title race while also triumphing in the prestigious South East Region Cup and in the Stewart Brien Cup. Their coach, Shane McCreevy, claimed: "I don't think there's anyone better than us at playing football," following his side's second 5-0 win in a cup final. Tynie head coach Simon Kinghorn, meanwhile, said of his side's sustained success: "It's been a real team effort to win four trophies and to play 45 games this season."

Preston Athletic (Division 2) picked up a trio of trophies while Division 3 title winners Easthouses completed a league-and-cup double.

Stewart Brown's Dunbar United Colts could not have asked for a more satisfying debut season of competitive football, lifting the Division 4 championship trophy as well as two further cups. The coach said: "It's the laddies' first season at 11-a-side, and as the season's progressed they've improved, playing good, passing football."

At an ultra-competitive under-14 level, an exclusive group of six teams swept up all 19 trophies on offer. Scottish Cup winners Tynecastle completed a haul of four trophies, including the Division 1 title, while their nearest challengers Edina Hibs produced a hat-trick of cup wins. Tynecastle secretary Allan Smart said: "It's been a hard but successful season. We are delighted as a team. The enthusiasm has been high throughout and that has contributed a lot."

Hutchison Vale 96 made their mark in a second nationwide competition by winning the Tom Young Cup, a head-to-head between the beaten semi- finalists of the Scottish Cup.

In Division 2, Inch Colts 'A' won the league title and with it promotion to the top tier, capping their success with two cup final wins. The league below saw Bonnyrigg Rose Reds top the table but Spartans Colts picking up three trophies. Alongside Tynecastle as the most prolific trophy-winning under-14s was Beeslack Thistle, who claimed the Division 4 title and three cups. Chris Steel, part of the Penicuik side's coaching staff, said: "We have been unbeaten in the league all season. So, for next season, we hope to build on this year and we will be setting our sights high."

Leith Athletic's under-15 side ensured a fairytale finish to coach Mark Muirhead's 11-year term with three trophy wins, although Tynecastle, who won a cup competition themselves, pipped them to the Division 1 title. Mr Muirhead said: "It's been a good last three years for us – we've done really well, and now we have 7-8 players going to pro youth initiatives with senior teams."

In a closely-fought under-16 Division 1 title race, Tynecastle made it a hat-trick of top-tier titles for the club through the age groups while also winning three trophies. Nearest challengers Bonnyrigg Rose, whom Tynie beat in a league decider, consoled themselves by winning The Evening News Trophy, and the Midlothian side's coach Robert Dickson said: "The boys have put in a lot of hard work over the season and although we've had some misfortune in some league games, I'm delighted with them."

After the previous season's six-trophy haul, Edinburgh City's under-17 outfit had a certain weight of expectation upon them going into the 2009/10 campaign but revelled in the challenge, securing another six trophies including the Scottish Cup. That left only the Division 2 title and league cup to play for, and Cavalry Park were the worthy recipients of both. Cavalry coach Jason Dalgliesh said: "We had a brand new team at the start of the season, but now we're looking forward to playing in Division 1. Our success this season, though, will be a tough act to follow."

Leith Athletic's stellar under-19 side continued their rampage through the cup competitions, winning seven trophies along the way. It was Edinburgh United, though, who flew the flag for the Capital in the Scottish Cup, beating Blue Brazil 6-4 in the final. Regular "bridesmaids" Musselburgh Windsor ensured they narrowly avoided a trophyless season, with coach James Carlyle saying, after their Federation of Hibs Supporters Cup win: "We've had a decent season, having been to five semi-finals, and this is our first bit of silverware."

However, after a breathless end to the youth football season packed with one showpiece final after another, there is little time to reflect on past glories as the 2010/11 campaign begins on the weekend of August 14-15.