21 local clubs have been recognised for their valuable contribution to grassroots football.
At a special awards evening at Hampden, the clubs were presented with their Scottish FA Quality Mark Awards by chief executive Stewart Regan.
The Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme, run by the Scottish FA in partnership with McDonald’s and sportscotland, recognises proactive clubs and schools working to increase youth and community participation. There are three Quality Mark categories - Standard, Development, and Community.
The following clubs received their awards:
Standard
East End United
First Touch Coaching
Grieve Road United
Broomhill BC
Eastwood Juveniles
Carolside Primary Sports Club
Lancraigs FC
Maryhill Juniors
Celtic BC
Petershill BC
Park Villa FDG
Pollok United Soccer Academy
Clyde School of Football
Parkmoor BC
Development
Giffnock Soccer Centre
St Peters BC
Harmony Row YC
Gleniffer Thistle BC
Johnstone Burgh Juniors Community FC
Community
Clyde Soccer Glasgow
Clubs and schools receive the award after meeting standards in areas such as coach and player development, management, administration, welfare and planning. So far more than 250 clubs and schools have achieved accreditation over the three categories, and over 4,000 coaches have benefited from coach education and first aid training.
"The purpose of the West Region Awards night is to recognise those clubs in the region who have achieved Quality Mark in 2011. In this occasion 20 clubs have obtained various levels of QM through hard work from all involved at the club and ably assisted by their local football development officers.
“The awards night gives everyone involved in the region the opportunity to say a massive thanks to all of these volunteers who without them football in the area wouldn’t happen.”
“Every year I am in awe of the dedication, commitment and passion these volunteers demonstrate in running, developing and sustaining their clubs. The clubs who awarded this year ranged from those with one team to some clubs that have over 500 young payers playing and training each week.”
“Since its inception in 2006, Quality Mark is now supporting over 80 clubs throughout the West Region to develop club infrastructure and with more than 6000 players and volunteers involved the QM scheme has given the clubs the platform and support to flourish.”
McDonald’s, Scottish FA’s community partner since 2002, are committed to helping young footballers shine by attracting 13,000 new volunteers and 10,000 new coaches by 2014, as well as supporting 600 clubs and 52,000 players through new and existing football networks.
Through Quality Mark, McDonald’s and the Scottish FA aim to provide support to grassroots clubs and schools across Scotland as they strive to broaden youth and community participation and to enhance player, coach and volunteer development.
The Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme is supported by sportscotland, the national agency for sport. sportscotland has one clear focus – to develop a world class sporting system for Scotland – and works with partners to build success for Scottish sport.
sportscotland is a key partner in the delivery of youth football programmes, investing over £1m per year in activities including employment of club development staff, discounted coach education and training for volunteers.
For further information on the Scottish FA Quality Mark programme, please visit www.scottishfa.co.uk/footballdevelopment