Club at the heart of SFA plan to raise game

By DAVID HARDIE
Published on 30/03/2012 11:26

Hibs are to play a leading role in promoting the SFA’s plan for the future of football development in Edinburgh with the appointment of Willie Kirk as a community coaching development officer.

Based at Easter Road, Kirk will work across the Capital, the Lothians and the Borders to deliver a wide range of football projects across key areas of the SFA’s vision for quality growth in football participation and performance for all ages.

A qualified advance youth licence and UEFA B licence coach and manger of Hibernian Ladies teams, Kirk will be responsible for coach education and will build and lead a team of qualified coaches to work in schools and across local football clubs to improve player performance and increase playing opportunities.

Kirk’s appointment is another milestone for the Hibernian Community Foundation, adding football development in the community to its portfolio of other activities which include the Hibernian Learning Centre, men’s health and fitness initiatives, employment support for the long-term unemployed and disability football.

He said: “This is a new role in the Foundation. The direction comes from the SFA’s Scotland United 2020 vision, and tying this in with increasing Hibs community interaction creates a lot of scope for development.”