Stornoway United Football Club has become the first club in the Western Isles to gain the Scottish FA Quality Mark Standard Award. 

 

The Award, part of the Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme run by the Scottish FA in partnership with McDonald’s, and supported by the Big Lottery Fund, recognises proactive clubs and schools working to increase youth and community participation.

 

Stornoway United's Manus McGhee, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award. Being the first club in the Western Isles to achieve a Quality Mark Award has given us the challenge of setting and maintaining the standard in our area."

 

There are three Quality Mark categories - Standard, Development, and Community. So far almost 100 clubs and schools have achieved accreditation over the three categories, and over 4,000 coaches have benefited from coach education and first aid training.

 

To achieve the Standard award, Stornoway United had to demonstrate best practice in management, administration, coach and player development, planning, and welfare.

 

Scottish FA Regional Manager Graeme Sutherland said: "This is an excellent achievement on the part of Stornoway United and they should be commended for all the hard work they put in both on and off the pitch.
 
"I hope that this award will provide motivation to clubs in more remote areas to push on and follow this good example."

 

McDonald’s, official partner of the Scottish FA Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme, will invest £100,000 in the scheme over three years as part of its ongoing commitment to grassroots football in Scotland.

 
The Quality Mark scheme is supported by the Big Lottery Fund, which contributes to the employment of all Scottish FA club development staff, as well as discounted coach education and first aid courses for grassroots volunteers.
 
For more information on Quality Mark, click here