The Scottish Football Association and Mars Chocolate UK have announced that they are renewing their existing partnership for another four-year term.

Mars will continue to build on the success of the past four years, maintaining its role as Official Partner of the Scotland National Team and Official Partner to The Scottish FA until July 2018.

The Scottish FA and Mars have been working together to make a lasting difference to adult football since 2011. The objective of the Scottish FA MARS Just Play initiative is to encourage people to get involved in the game through a number of Scottish FA MARS Just Play football sessions that are organised during the summer months each year. These sessions are hosted at a number of football clubs across the country and are designed to encourage new or lapsed players to turn up and play casual football in well facilitated, easily accessed and fun environments.

Following the success of the last three years, there are now 3 affiliated over 35’s leagues with 600 players participating on a regular basis. Student leagues have grown from 20 teams at the start of the programme to 39 teams this season.

“Adult participation is a key strand of our One National Plan, particularly among over 35s, and with the support of the best loved Mars brand, we have rejuvenated the interest of players who have lapsed for a variety of reasons” says Jim Fleeting, Scottish FA Director of Football Development.

“I am delighted to continue our excellent partnership with Mars and their ‘Just Play’ initiative.”

Fiona Dawson, President of Mars Chocolate UK & Global Retail said: “Mars has a proud heritage of working within football and we are really pleased to extend our partnership with the Scottish FA. We’ve already made a great impact together, getting fans back on the pitch and reminding them what they love about playing the beautiful game.

"We’re really looking forward to building on that success. We want the Just Play scheme to reach even further,  making it even more accessible and we’re excited to continue working so closely with the Scottish FA to achieve that.”

For more information about how you can attend a Just Play session, please search online for Scottish Just Play.