Auchinleck Talbot FC has become the first Junior club in the South West of Scotland to receive the ‘Standard’ Quality Mark award.
The record nine times Junior Scottish Cup winning club has met all necessary requirements of governance - including the incorporation of the Positive Coaching Scotland philosophy and adherence to the Player Pathway -to be granted the accreditation.
Charlie Richmond, development manager at Auchinleck Talbot, said: “We wanted to provide a structured means of prioritising and managing improvement at the football club.
“The Quality Mark scheme is a valid vehicle to measure progress over time. We at Auchinleck Talbot also view the external validation as a useful source of feedback for improvement.”
Club development manager for the Scottish FA’s South West region, Graeme Mathie, said he had been impressed by the volume of evidence presented by the club to support the Quality Mark application.
“It is great credit to the Scottish Junior FA that they have actively encouraged their clubs to engage in Quality Mark and there will undoubtedly be more Junior Clubs accredited in the South-West Region at the awards night in December,” he added.
Structure
Asked how he felt the Quality Mark award would impact on the club, Charlie said: “There is now plentiful research to demonstrate the link between a structured approach to managing improvement and improved organisational performance.
“With the Quality Mark award accredited to Auchinleck Talbot, it will illustrate that we have a professionally structured approach to the development and wellbeing for our members.”
If you are involved at club or team who have ambitions to be bigger, better and stronger then the Quality Mark Award Scheme is for you.
It is designed to support and recognise the work of clubs and teams who have a desire to be the very best they can be. Increasing participation in football, driving high standards and increasing the development of our players, coaches and volunteers is a priority of the Scottish FA and their partner McDonald's.
For more information on the Quality Mark programme, click here.
Keep up-to-date with the latest football activities in the South West region on Twitter @sfa_southwest.