The SFP Trust was delighted to award funding of £500 from their Club Development Grant scheme to Annan Athletic F.C. from the SFA South West Region. The initiative, funded by the SFP Trust in partnership with The Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust and The Clydesdale Bank was developed to assist grassroots clubs in three specific areas – to increase participation by adding a new team to a club’s existing membership; to improve, enhance and sustain existing team activity through the purchase of new training equipment and/or funding First Aid training for coaches or thirdly to support Coach Education.
Annan Athletic F.C. opted to use their award to increase participation at the club by developing a new adult ladies team. The club currently has over 200 boys playing over five different age-groups, as well as a para football team, with this level of participation being overseen by 28 registered coaches. The club hopes to attract over 30 players for their new ladies section and are well on their way to achieving this goal. Brian Jardine from the club sent on a photograph of Annan Athletic Ladies in their new kit which was funded using some of the award from the SFPT – with the remainder being utilised for coach education – and commented that “the ladies are delighted with their new kit – they now feel part of a team and are thoroughly enjoying their football. ”