The West region’s fourth annual Festive Football event kicked-off at Toryglen Regional Football Centre on Monday 14 December, as chief executive Gordon Smith dropped in to announce that 1000 new boys and girls teams have been created in secondary schools across Scotland by Scottish FA school football programme, Bank of Scotland Soccer One.

Soccer One is just one of the initiatives that volunteer coaches from across Glasgow participate in as part of the West region’s successful college football volunteer programme.

Watch our exclusive video on the right to find out more about Soccer One and the volunteer programme.

The week-long Festive Football event is delivered by college students as part of the volunteer programme, which links North Glasgow, Nautical, Cardonald and Metropolitan colleges. Students are given the opportunity to gain free coaching qualifications in return for volunteering in football programmes in local schools and communities.

This year’s Festive Football event – a partnership between the Scottish FA, Glasgow City Council Education Services and Culture and Sport Glasgow - will allow over 1000 young people from Glasgow schools to play football at Toryglen. 

Throughout the week, students from each different college will plan and deliver a football festival for local pupils from primary, secondary and special needs schools.

Scottish FA West regional manager, Paul McNeill, said: “Festive Football is a fantastic event which continues to grow every year. It gives the young students who have been working with us the opportunity to gain real event management experience by planning and delivering a football event.”

The Scottish FA is fully committed to supporting the young volunteers who are the life blood of the grassroots game. This year, the college football volunteer programme has seen over 100 students becoming actively involved in different events, with over 2000 voluntary hours completed so far.

Festive Football event, 14-18 December 2009:

Monday 14 December (10am to 2pm)

North Glasgow College plan a Soccer One boys 4-a-side tournament for over 30 teams.

Tuesday 15 December (10am to 2pm)

Glasgow Nautical College organise a 4-a-side tournament for Soccer Two boys, with over 25 teams taking part.

Wednesday the 16 December (10am to 2pm)

Cardonald College plan an event for S1-S6 girls. This event will be split with S1/3 girls and S4/6 girls taking part in their own events, with over 40 teams involved overall.

Friday 18 December

Metropolitan College hold a primary school 4-a-side festival for over 40 teams.