Published on:
23
November 2011
Two Clackmannanshire sports clubs have received prestigious accolades from their respective sports governing bodies.
Tullibody Community Football Club and Hillfoots Rugby Football Club are the first Clackmannanshire clubs to receive the SFA (Scottish Football Association) Scottish FA Quality Mark Community Award and the SRU (Scottish Rugby Union) Club of the Month award.
In both cases, the recognition comes as a result of the clubs' community work, encouraging as many people to become involved in playing, coaching and volunteering roles.
The SFA recognition came after Tullibody Community FC demonstrated club achievements in aspects including coach and volunteer recruitment and development, commitment to player development and player welfare, child protection, health and safety and overall club organisation.
One of the key objectives is to ensure that players are encouraged to stay with the club and continue to play, train and compete at their chosen level whilst developing a sense of community belonging. Tullibody now has nine teams, from boys under 9s through to adults, as well as under 11, 13 and 17 girls.
Club Chairman David Reynolds commented, "We have always tried to be proactive in our links with the community and we see this very much as reward for our efforts. The SFA's Community award is their highest Quality Mark status and it is a tremendous achievement given the population of Clackmannanshire. While we know there are other local clubs which have now started on the Quality Mark process, we are delighted to be top of this particular league."
Like their football neighbours, Hillfoots RFC has seen a massive increase in membership over the last three years. From only 12 in 2008, over 200 youngsters now turn out for teams ranging from primary school children playing for the P1-P3 Tag Tigers up to under-18s. 75 new youth players have joined since the start of the current season and the club also now fields three adult teams, with the first 15 currently sitting second in the RBS Caledonia Division 1 league.
Volunteer numbers in backroom staff are also up, but it is the increased number of coaching staff in particular that has allowed the club to attend more community events, giving people the chance to try their hand at the sport. For the last three years Hillfoots RFC has been involved in a pilot project for Positive Coaching Scotland, run by the Council in partnership with the Winning Scotland Foundation and sportscotland. The success of the initiative will shortly be recognised as the SRU roll it out nationally with their own accreditation.
Being presented with the £1,000 that the Club of the Month award carries, club President Peter Norman said, "This is a fantastic achievement for the club. We have a number of people who put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to ensure that kids and adults of all ages have the opportunity to play rugby and to be given this honour by our peers makes it all worth while."
Clackmannanshire Council's Sports Development Team has worked alongside both clubs, supporting them and assisting their links with schools. Deputy Leader, Councillor Bobby McGill, who is spokesman for sport said, "I appreciate the lengths many of our sports clubs go to improve community links and it is rewarding to see this kind of success coming to Clackmannanshire. Congratulations to both Tullibody Community FC and Hillfoots RFC."