Clydeside Football Club scores generous donation

Thursday 15 October 2009 

TWO very different organisations have teamed up to get more young people involved in coaching – let alone playing - football.

The initiative spans the West of Scotland and has had a great kick off – thanks to a £2000 donation from FirstGroup, the leading transport operator.

The donation follows a community-based education scheme by Clydeside Football Club and the Trafalgar Housing Association.

Clydeside has five teams – from under-10s to under-21s – who play in leagues ranging from the West Dumbartonshire Development League to the Dumbartonshire, Paisley & District and West of Scotland leagues.

Colin Poultney, the club chairman, hopes to train as many new coaches as possible in order to launch even more teams under the Clydeside banner.

He added: “We hope that by getting more people into playing and coaching, the club can create a greater sense of community and involvement – particularly for youngsters who previously did not take part in sport or other activities.”

The focus on coaching follows feedback from older players in the Clydebank-based club who are already undertaking sports-related college courses.

They had expressed an interest in encouraging more young people into football.

The project will see people put through a Scottish Youth Football Association scheme and enrolled in the Positive Coaching Scotland Programme.

It is backed by Trafalgar Housing Association, whose spokesman Paul McShane said: “We are delighted to be involved in a project that is helping to further the skills and talents of local children and teenagers.”

FirstGroup’s donation will go towards football strips, equipment and the project itself.

Avril Gill, FirstGroup‘s Marketing Manager, Group Brand, commented: “The funding gives this new coaching project a welcome boost. We are often on the look out for opportunities to help at a local level and this is a perfect example of where we can do just that.”

Mr Poultney said: “We are working with various schools to try and encourage pupils – and parents – to get involved with the club.

“The donation from FirstGroup will help a great deal towards funding coaching education. And we also hope to recruit more girls within the club too – both to play and coach.”

Plans to recruit more coaches are being rolled out to two Dalmuir primary schools - Clydemuir Primary and Our Lady of Loretto Primary.

Media enquiries
Carla Rinaldi, ScotRail Communications: 0141 335 5156 / carla.rinaldi@firstgroup.com
Iain Wilson, ScotRail Communications: 0141 335 4565 / iain.wilson@firstgroup.com