Published on:
20
July 2009
A team of youngsters from Clackmannanshire will be representing their country in September, after the success of the Council-run midnight leagues.
The team of eight boys aged 15 and 16 travelled to lesser Hampden on 14 June 2009 for a national final. Having reached the final of this event, the SFA has announced that our team will represent Scotland in an international 7s event at Toryglen on 4-5 September. The team will be fully kitted out, stay overnight in Tulliallan and be guests at the Scotland v Macedonia game at Hampden. The Council's Football Development officer will be doing preparatory work with the boys, who are all very excited and looking forward to the event.
Councillor Bobby McGill, spokesperson for Sport and Leisure, said, "The midnight leagues are fantastic for young people, giving them somewhere to go and a safe focus for their evening activity. The success of this team shows how much talent we have here in Clackmannanshire and is just reward for the hard work of the boys involved. We are lucky to have dedicated coaches who take the leagues on Friday nights, especially in wild, windy weather. Thank you to coaches John Hooper and Jim Hamilton, and to everyone who has been so supportive of this project over the years."
The midnight leagues take place at the Alloa Athletic grounds on Friday nights from 9 to 11pm. They have been running for over five years and are very popular: Clackmannanshire is used as an example of good practice. 18 weeks of the leagues are funded by SFA, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Bank of Scotland. A further 15 weeks are funded by the other donors, including the Community Safety Partnership. Funding includes covering the costs of bussing the youngsters to and from the grounds. Choose Sport First help promote the programme and have encouraged girls to attend. To book call 222352 or just turn up.