The SFP Trust launched a new Club Development Grant initiative at the beginning of 2018 and one of the first grassroots clubs to receive a £500 award was Blantyre Soccer Academy.
The initiative, supported by funds donated by The Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust and the Clydesdale Bank as well as The SFP Trust will see a total of 54 Scottish FA Quality Mark clubs each receive an individual grant of £500 – which equates to a total investment of £27,000 to support grassroots football clubs in Scotland. The funding can be used by these clubs in three specific areas – to increase participation by adding a new team to their existing membership; to improve, enhance and sustain existing team activity through the purchase of new training equipment or funding First Aid training for coaches or thirdly to support Coach Education.
Blantyre Soccer Academy, who operate a total of 22 teams and have a playing membership of over 470 players, have utilised the funding to furnish their newly formed 2013 team with new training kit and equipment. This will help in the development of their player pathway from mini-kickers through to their full 11-a-side teams. The club’s 2013 team has over 20 players and 4 coaches and the above photograph shows some of the new recruits in their club kit.