The Scottish FA is proud to announce JD as the title sponsor of the Performance School programme for the next three years.
The partnership was announced as 48 budding footballers were inducted into the four-year programme at Hampden Park this afternoon and will see the seven schools renamed the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools.
JD will also become title sponsor for the Performance School trials, application process and football festivals, as well as a Scottish FA Official Performance Partner.
Scottish FA Performance Director Malky Mackay was joined by 26-times capped Motherwell defender Stephen McManus and 16-year-old Heart of Midlothian defender and Performance School graduate Harry Cochrane to welcome the 2017 cohort.
The schools are part of the Scottish FA’s Performance Strategy where the best young players in Scotland marry their football education with their normal curriculum from between the ages of 12 and 16
Each school has a full-time coach that works in conjunction with the clubs and school to enhance the players’ technical skills at a key stage of their development and support the academic potential of the players.
Every year, each school takes in a number of the most talented under-12 players in their region – both boys and girls – and provides extra coaching sessions during the curriculum focusing on skills development.
Malky Mackay, Scottish FA Performance Director, said: “This sponsorship deal represents great value for the Scottish FA Performance School programme and we are delighted to welcome an industry leader such as JD on board.
“We have just welcomed the sixth intake of players into the programme and this investment will support their development throughout the duration of their football education.
“We are already seeing strong signs that the schools are having a huge impact and this sponsorship agreement will further enable us to develop the next generation of Scottish internationalists.”
Stephen White, JD Group Marketing Director, said: “We are very excited to partner on such an important programme to help develop the next crop of Scotland internationals.
“The vision for the schools and the development of those in the programme is something we feel very passionately about.
“Having built a strong relationship with the Scottish FA over the last five years as retail partner we are proud to extend this partnership to supporting the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools.”
Scottish FA JD Performance Schools and Coaches:
Braidhurst High School (Motherwell) – Andrew Goldie
Broughton High School (Edinburgh) – Greg Miller
Graeme High School (Falkirk) – Ian Ross
Grange Academy (Kilmarnock) – James Grady
Hazlehead Academy (Aberdeen) – Stuart Glennie
Holyrood Secondary School (Glasgow) – Joe McBride
St John’s High School (Dundee) – Iain Jenkins