Fixtures: Saturday 21st January 2012.
No Cumnock Juniors Youth Teams games on Saturday 21st.
Cumnock Juniors Youth Football Club receives prestigious award.
Cumnock uniors Youth FC has been recognised for their valuable contribution to grassroots football.
Derek King, Billy Menzies and Nigel Spencer were presented with the Scottish FA Quality Mark Development Award at Hampden Park by Jim Fleeting, Director of Football Development.
The Award, part of the Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme run by the Scottish FA in partnership with McDonald’s and sportscotland, recognises pro-active clubs and schools working to increase youth and community participation. Clubs and schools receive the award after meeting standards in areas such as coach and player development, management, administration, welfare and planning.
The Club received the Standard award last year but weren’t happy with that and continued their progress during 2011 to achieve the Development Award. The Club created a “Football Development Plan” with a strong emphasis on Coach Development. They organised an SFA Goalkeeping course with Greenock Morton goalkeeper Colin Stewart with 14 Club coaches achieving their goalkeeping coaching certificate. Each team then set further high standards by having at least one coach per team achieveing SFA Level 3 Coaching ‘In The Game’. Part of their Development Plan also involved organising a football festival with a hugely successful one held in June. Players, parents and coaches have all signed and adhere to a strong code of conduct. The Club have also built a stronger working relationship with Cumnock Juniors. A player from the club is selected as Matchday Mascot for all home games. The Club have also organised small games on Townhead Park at half time when the Juniors play. The Club also have ambitious plans for Facility Development.
Derek King from the Club said “ I would like to congratulate everyone connected with the Club, players, coaches and parents who have all worked hard over the last year to help us achieve this new award. A lot of Clubs who have received the Standard Award have not made the step to Development. We are one of only 9 Clubs who have done so in the South West Region. It was nice to be at Hampden among other prestigious Clubs and hear our own Club being spoken highly of. I would also like to thank the SFA Development Manager John Brown for all his guidance and support.”
Regional Club Development Manager John Brown said: “I am delighted to see Cumnock Juniors Youth FC receive this award. The committee, coaches, players and all associated with the club have shown their commitment to working to improve the club and make sure that the football in their community is delivered in the best possible way. This award is due recognition for all of their effort and the precious time that they have given up over the years and I hope that they continue to do so in the years ahead. Well done”.
There are three Quality Mark categories – Standard, Development, and Community. 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.
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.
The Quality Mark Accreditation Scheme is supported by sportscotland, the nationalagency 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.
