Keep up-to-date with the latest football activities in the North region on Twitter @sfa_north

Football practice opportunities for children in primary five, six and seven are set to increase after the Scottish FA opened up two new 2020 Development Centres in the region.

Banks o Dee Astroturf in Aberdeen and the Garioch Centre in Inverurie are now running the programme.

The centres are the link between the grassroots game and elite performance.

Along with professional clubs, players are selected from across the non-professional game to take part in specialised, two-hour training sessions over a 36 week period.

The aim is to have these players enter the Scottish FA’s Performance School programme when they reach secondary school.

The addition of the two new centres means there are now six centres operating in the North region. To view a map of all the centres, click HERE.

Ritchie Wilson, the Scottish FA community development manager who oversees the programme, said: “I'm delighted we have opened these two extra centres in the region.

“The project is part of the Association's Performance Strategy and, working in partnership with both grassroots and senior clubs, provides an additional training opportunity for young players to develop their potential.

“Moving into its second year of operation, the project has so far been well received by clubs, players, coaches and parents from the football community and with almost 1000 players now involved in the initiative, there is real potential to develop and support the next generation of Scottish future talent.”

Across Scotland, over 3000 young people have tried out for a place in this year’s programme and 948 were selected.

637 players are connected to the non-professional game while 311 are linked with professional clubs.