Partick Thistle F.C. aim to utilise their SFP Community Award to help increase female participation in the game. Following on from once weekly taster sessions delivered pre-match on a Saturday afternoon, the club will provide twice weekly training sessions for girls of all ages, with the prospect of entering teams in the SWFL.
The weekly taster sessions will run for 12 weeks and participants will then be transported to Firhill Stadium, when the first team are at home, to watch the SPFL match taking place. There will be a number of meet and greet opportunities for the participants with first team players and management after the matches. Thereafter, the club propose to introduce twice weekly sessions for age group under- 9s, 11s, 13s and 15s from September, 2015. The aim is to introduce the under-9 and 11 age groups into local festivals from then for the remainder of the season. The under-13 and 15 age groups will then enter the SWFL for March, 2016.
Gerry Britton, the club’s Academy Director said “The lasting benefit of this project will be the legacy of engagement by a group within society who had not previously interacted with the game or the club. Our aim is to engage with the local community to instigate lifelong relationships of mutual benefit to both parties. Healthier lifestyles will be created by indulging in regular, monitored physical activity and Partick Thistle F.C. aim to become an important tenant in the ongoing lives of the participant.”