Today, local primary school children from across East Dunbartonshire had an incredible morning of football, as the Tesco Bank Football Challenge visited the area for a fun-filled festival at Lennoxtown, home of Celtic FC training ground.

The 180 pupils from Twechar, St Flannans, Craigdhu, Lennoxtown, St Andrews & Mosshead Primary Schools are the latest to have taken part in the thirty weeks of coaching sessions as part of the Scottish FA’s flagship participation programme and came together for a finale to remember. Former Celtic and Scotland Defender Tom Boyd also supported the Festival by having a Question and Answer with the children during the day.

The Tesco Bank Football Challenge is a four-year community programme run in partnership with the Scottish FA. The project introduces football to Primary Two and Primary Three children (six to eight years old) across Scotland to help get them engaged in a healthy and active lifestyle.

A remarkable 70,000 children across 1,562 schools in Scotland have now engaged with the country’s leading football participation programme. Teachers and volunteers continue to enjoy the Scottish FA’s in-service programme with over 3,500 now trained to support the growth of football in schools.

Tom Boyd said:

“The children have had a great day at the Tesco Bank Football Challenge and is wonderful to see so many young children playing today. Programmes such as these are vital if we are to keep children healthy and hopefully to fulfil their ambitious of being a footballer.”

Scottish FA Football Development Officer Kevin Murphy said:

“The Tesco Bank Football Challenge continues to grow across the length and breadth of the country and we’re pleased to welcome the children to Lennoxtown for this latest festival. Everyone who attended had a terrific time and enjoyed the variety of coaching and games which were on offer. I would also like to thank Tesco Bank Football Challenge for their continued support as well as Celtic FC for the use of their Training Ground. Finally massive thanks to Tom Boyd who was on hand to pass on his experiences to the children on the day.

Adele Mills, Community Investment Manager at Tesco Bank, added:

“The Tesco Bank Football Challenge has benefited teachers, pupils and volunteers year on year and has an important aim of promoting health and wellbeing to youngsters in Scotland. It was great to see the children having such a great time today.”

The primary schools attending the festival were: Twechar, St Flannans, Craigdhu, Lennoxtown, St Andrews & Mosshead