Surprise for participants of football clubs at Ayrshire College
The Jo Love Soccer Centre and Kris Boyd Soccer School have gone into a winter shutdown – but not before the boys and girls in attendance at the final session of the year were given a special pre-Christmas gift.
Boys at the Kris Boyd Soccer School on Monday 3 December, and girls at the Jo Love Soccer Centre on Wednesday 5 December, were given free tickets to Kilmarnock’s Scottish Premiership match against St. Johnstone at Rugby Park.
Key members of the first team squad at Kilmarnock FC - Stuart Findlay, Rory McKenzie and club captain Gary Dicker - were on hand to dish out the tickets on Monday night. East Ayrshire Provost Jim Todd and Depute Provost Claire Leitch were also in attendance.
Although the match finished 0-0, the kids enjoyed the experience. Everyone has also been enjoying the football clubs, which run on a weekly basis at Ayrshire College’s Kilmarnock Campus.
The clubs are organised in partnership with East Ayrshire Active Schools and Vibrant Communities, and offer free hourly football sessions to boys and girls aged 5-12.
The Kris Boyd Soccer School is backed by Kris’ charity, The Kris Boyd Charity, and his football academy, KB9 Academy. The Jo Love Soccer Centre is backed by the South West region of the Scottish Football Association.
Kris Boyd said: “I am delighted to be involved in this great example of community partnership working. This is a great foundation for us to build upon, and there will be lot s more to come. We will be adding to our offering with the intention to expand into other local authorities to provide opportunities for young people to participates in fun, physical activities.
“I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful contribution of all partners involved for Vibrant Communities, Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock Football Club, OnlySport and Kelme who make all of this possible.”
Cherryl Fulton, East Ayrshire Active Schools Co-ordinator, said: “The Soccer Schools are a fantastic example of partnership work at its finest. The SFA, Ayrshire College and Vibrant Communities all working together for the same goal: to give as many young people the opportunity to play football, no matter their background, experience or ability, all under the banner of #ConnectingCommunities.
“The Soccer Schools are run solely by Ayrshire College students both past and present, who are excellent role models to the girls and boys who attend the Soccer Schools.
“I look forward to what the future holds for #ConnectingCommunities as a number of partners come on board and the clubs grow from strength to strength.”
Anyone interested in joining the clubs in the New Year can contact Cherryl at cherryl.fulton@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
13 December 2019
Share this post
