The SFP Trust was delighted to award funding of £500 from their new Club Development Grant scheme to Gleniffer Thistle F.C. from the SFA 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.
Gleniffer Thistle F.C. has a current membership of 180 boys and 73 girls with 42 registered coaches and utilised their grant to increase the size of their girls section, with the start-up of a new Under-17 girls’ team. Some of the funding was used for coaching equipment and playing kit and the photograph here shows the girls in their new strips. The club already operates girls’ teams at under-9, 11, 13 and 15 age levels and also has an adult ladies team. This new age-group will necessitate an increase in the number of coaches required and some of the funds will be put towards First Aid training and further education for these coaches. Billy Hassan from the club commented “Awards like these are vital for clubs as it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract sponsorship. This award will give our girls a really good start to the season, both in playing equipment and coaching aids and courses and we are all most grateful to the SFP Trust for this funding .”