This weekend Celtic and Aberdeen do battle at Hampden Park in the season’s showpiece event, the William Hill Scottish Cup Final.
In the lead up to the match, we are featuring both clubs across our digital channels, including the new Scottish Cup Twitter account with Celtic in focus today.
As part of the build-up we are looking at the work the Scottish FA does with each club.
The Scottish FA West Region has combined with Celtic FC Foundation for the last six years to deliver the School of Football project in St Mungo’s Academy.
The Celtic FC Foundation provides the operational delivery of the project while the Scottish FA ensures the overall development and objectives of the project are achieved.
The Scottish FA Schools of Football are supported by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative and players are selected on footballing ability as well as a range of other criteria.
Scottish FA coaches lead the selection and football aspects, but the programme is a partnership with local authority education departments, schoolteachers, active schools co-ordinators and football development officers.
Scottish FA Player and Coach Development Manager Scott Chaplain said: “We have a great partnership with the Celtic FC Foundation which allows us to deliver this project.
“With Celtic Park being so close to the school it allows us to use the inspiration of the sport to motivate the young people within the project.”
Football is used as a tool to motivate the pupils and their place on the School of Football programme depends on school attendance and academic improvement.
Communication, following instructions, creativity and problem solving are amongst the skills developed when learning to play football, and can also be applied in classroom situations, in the playground, at home or in the street.
Andy Gould Head of Football Development said: “Our partnership with Cashback in the Communities has been very successful over the years and this innovative partnership with Celtic FC Foundation has been very successful.
“We would like to thank all partners for driving this project forward and allowing us to reach and provide great support to many young people in the local community’.
Celtic FC Foundation CEO Tony Hamilton said: “I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has made School of Football such a resounding success.
"The project’s principles of encouraging sporting, social and academic development align closely with Celtic FC Foundation’s core ideals around creating opportunities and transforming lives for the better.
“Now in its sixth year, the project’s longevity is indicative of its value and I’m certain it will continue to deliver positive change in the future.”
Win a pair of Celtic tickets for Saturday’s Cup Final