19 local clubs and schools have been recognised for their valuable contribution to grassroots football and at a special awards evening, the clubs were presented with their Scottish FA Quality Mark Awards.
The Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme, run by the Scottish FA in partnership with McDonald’s and sportscotland, recognises proactive clubs and schools working to increase youth and community participation. There are three Quality Mark categories - Standard, Development, and Community.
The following clubs received their awards:
Community:
Pitfour Football Club
Riverside Community Sports Club
Development:
Carnoustie Panmure Football Club
Forfar Farmington Football Club
Bayside Football Club
LKB United Football Club
Standard:
Arbroath Community Sports Club
Brechin Youths Football Club
Celtic Tayside Football Club
Cowdenbeath United
Discovery Lads
Drumgeith Athletic Football Club
Dryburgh Athletic Football Club
Ferry Athletic Football Club
Kirkcaldy Colts 1998’s
Monifieth Ladies
Raith Rovers Ladies Football Club
St James Football Club
Kennoway United
Clubs and schools receive the award after meeting standards in areas such as coach and player development, management, administration, welfare and planning. So far more than 250 clubs and schools have achieved accreditation over the three categories, and over 4,000 coaches have benefited from coach education and first aid training.
"The Quality Mark programme is designed to support new clubs to get established and to give recognition to the clubs who have been well established for a number of years,” said Kevin Lee. “The spectrum of support that is offered to clubs is well demonstrated by the representation of the awarded clubs today. From the newly established one team clubs to our Community & Development Clubs who have multiple age groups representing children, youths, and adults that have all been developing grassroots football in their local communities for a number of years - well done and thanks to all of the awards winners"
McDonald’s, Scottish FA’s community partner since 2002, are committed to helping young footballers shine by attracting 13,000 new volunteers and 10,000 new coaches by 2014, as well as supporting 600 clubs and 52,000 players through new and existing football networks.
Through Quality Mark, McDonald’s and the Scottish FA aim to provide support to grassroots clubs and schools across Scotland as they strive to broaden youth and community participation and to enhance player, coach and volunteer development.
The Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme is supported by sportscotland, the national agency for sport. sportscotland has one clear focus – to develop a world class sporting system for Scotland – and works with partners to build success for Scottish sport.
sportscotland is a key partner in the delivery of youth football programmes, investing over £1m per year in activities including employment of club development staff, discounted coach education and training for volunteers.
For further information on the Scottish FA Quality Mark programme, please visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/footballdevelopment