Schools football: £1m project keeps pupils on the ball

Pupils and teachers from across the country have given positive feedback to a programme that encourages children aged between six and eight to get involved in football and, as a result, have an active lifestyle.

The Tesco Bank Football Challenge is a four-year community programme run in partnership with the Scottish FA with over 1 million being invested to reach 72,000 boys and girls of all levels and abilities in over 1,600 primary schools across Scotland.

It was launched last August by Scotland manager Craig Levein and since then over 13,000 children across Scotland have taken part in the initiative.

In September, 350 children from Paisley attended a festival at St Mirren Park and Scottish FA development officer Gary Hocknull was pleased with the way it went.

He explained: "The Tesco Bank Football Challenge was integral to the development of the game in the Renfrewshire area.

"It targeted ten local primary schools and enabled the Scottish FA to engage with over 350 schoolchildren per week.

"The coaching culminated in a football festival on the park at St Mirren Park which allowed the kids to take part in small sided games and skill zones. It was fantastic that so many children from the Renfrewshire were given the chance to take part in an initiative that is beneficial for both the local community and Scottish football."

A representative from St Paul's Primary School in Paisley said: "St Mirren FC, Tesco Bank and the SFA must be thanked for providing this opportunity to our pupils.

"The children got to play on the pitch and meet some of the players which was a fantastic experience for them. The transport was also funded which at the moment is essential."

As part of the programme the six weeks of coaching comes from certified Scottish FA coaches, culminating in the festivals where all the youngsters can show off the skills and team work learnt during the previous month and a half.

The next batch of the Tesco Bank Football Challenge will be taking place in March with the programme to continue to encourage ongoing teacher training to enable schools to continue with the initiativeonce the SFA Development Officers have finished.

Chief executive of Tesco Bank Benny Higgins commented: "Tesco Bank aims to make a positive contribution to the whole of Scotland in the way we do business and by supporting local community initiatives.

"Football is central to this programme, acting as a vehicle for fitness and the development of both physical and social skills.

"Our aim is to see hundreds of boys and girls from across the country participating in football on a regular basis and having fun.

"We hope that our initiative gives the kids an experience that will stay with them for life and ultimately encourage regular involvement in the game."