WLAYFC Letters Page 2008-09
From Ian Mackay Evening news Journalist 01/09/08
(Please read the preceding letter dated 30/08 first as this is an answer to the letter below)
I am following this with interest....both personally and professionally. From a personal point of view, my eldest son played in the performance league with a pro club up until last season. He loved his football....but loved rugby equally...and played rugby for his school as rugby is not covered in the SFA rules .Some of his fellow team members in the football club dearly wanted to play football for their schools but weren't allowed...or did it behind thier coaches backs !! This was at under 14 and Under 15 level ! I think we need a full-on national debate on this. I have witnessed several young people play for a pro team , then be dumped, and then never play football again.....where playing for their school or local club would be just fine ! At least my son had another sport on which to fall back on !! And we live in an age when we are trying to encourage young people to get active and stay active ! Football can put so many off this for life !!
From Ian Mackay Evening news Journalist 30/08/08
SFA's position regarding young footballers and the way some kids are banned from taking part in school and youth club football
"The rules re professional clubs are straight forward, if the professional club participates in the performance league the players are not eligible to play for their school all other clubs who participate in the youth initiative their players are eligible to play for their school. All players at primary school level can play for their school.
If anyone has a problem with any SYFA member club they should send me a signed letter and I will investigate. I hope this helps, regards, David Little, secretary of Scottish Youth FA."
Meggetland and the setting out of pitches for games
At the Edinburgh v Mid/East Lothian under-15 Scottish Schools FA section tie on Monday night, the goals and corner flags were not in position for the start of the game. This is the answer to a question I put to Stephanie-Anne Harris regarding the situation at Meggetland, including the use of floodlights. The lights were put on for a coaching session that took place in the astroturf area, but not for the Scottish Schools tie and it was quite dark and very wet at the finish of the game. The heavy goals were put in place by both players and volunteers at the game. The answer is from Shirley Bowman of Edinburgh Leisure:
"We do not set up goals or corner flags for football, nor do we dress the pitches for rugby. We do not have the staffing levels to do this for every game. In the beginning we tried to set up goals but it proved impossible to do with the limited number of staff we have; often we had 3 or 4 sets of sevens goals (ie. 6 or 8 individual goals), to move on the astroturf, goals to set up on the lower pitches, plus 11's goals . . . with two, and sometimes only one member of staff it was not possible, so early on we took the decision to operate in the same way as all our other venues where goals and flags are set up by the teams. All our customers are aware of this, we have explained the reasons to them and they have been doing this literally since the start. There has been no adverse reaction or complaints. The large goals are deliberately turned around to face the fence and are padlocked to the fence. The smaller goals are inside the large goals. The reason we do this is because every morning staff were coming on duty to find the goals moved, at times a significant distance, and even moved to the lower pitches. There are lots of goals and they were scattered all over the pitches. If they were on duty on their own they could not move them back. Even if two staff are on shift, they should not be leaving the building unattended. In addition it prevents casual play on the prestige pitch...the only goals they could use are the astro goals which is where we want to direct casual play in the first place. The situation with the floodlights is not acceptable and we should have put them on. I do not expect our customers to have to come and ask to have the lights switched on, we should be aware of conditions and put them on, particularly as the lights were on on the astroturf. I'll raise this with the staff on duty at the time. I hope this explains and answers Ian's comments. Shirley Bowman.
I have now asked this further question relating to the handling of heavy goals:
Are people insured to move these goals? I remember a case in England where a set of goals fell on kids when they were carrying them! If I remember correctly, the boy's parents sued for the injuries to their son. I am sure I read that the only people covered by insurance are council employees. I know the set of goals I helped with at Meggetland were very heavy indeed.
West Lothian Council
NEWS RELEASE 19/09/08
New signings for midnight football Midnight football has returned to West Lothian with two brand new signings. Linlithgow and East Calder have been added to the line-up of towns for the 2008 midnight football season kicking off from 3 October, with Armadale, Blackburn, Broxburn, Bathgate and Livingston all re-signed for the new term. Midnight football is a free national five a side football community scheme, aimed at keeping young people off the streets and reducing anti-social behaviour. It is open to both boys and girls aged between 12 and 17, and players can comes along to take part in the leagues as either individuals or teams. The expanded project, which is run by West Lothian Council’s sport and recreation team and partners, is now one of the largest schemes of its type in Scotland. Executive Councillor for Culture and Leisure, Jim Walker, said: “Midnight football has proved a huge success in West Lothian, and has a part to play in ensuring young people don’t get involved in anti-social behaviour due to lack of opportunities or entertainment. “The project has really grown since the pilot in just two years, and last year saw over 450 young people take part in a combined total of almost 5000 hours of free sporting activity. “The midnight football leagues also aims to build community spirit and give the young people involved a sense of pride and ownership of the leagues in which they are taking part.” West Lothian Leisure are also supporting the popular scheme by hosting five of the seven leagues on the high quality third generation synthetic pitches at their Xcite centres. Other key partners include Lothian and Borders Police, the West Lothian Youth Action Project, the West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service and West Lothian Council’s Neighbour Response Teams (NRT). Midnight football is a nationally recognised initiative, which is used by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to demonstrate good practice. Funding has come from the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities scheme through the SFA as well as Halifax Bank of Scotland, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, BAA Edinburgh and Sportscotland. Times/dates/venues Armadale Community Centre Bathgate Sports Centre Broxburn Sports Centre Blackburn Community Centre Craigswood Sports Centre East Calder Sports Centre Linlithgow Leisure Centre For more information, contact sports development assistant Scott Murray on 01506 776184 or 01506 776295, fax 01506 776186 or email scott.murray2@westlothian.gov.uk Issued by media and communications officer Ewen McNamee. Tel: 01506 773812. Media@westlothian.gov.uk |
From Jen White Physical Activity Co-ordinator Strathbrock Partnership Centre 29/07/08
For health benefits we should all be aiming to accumulate 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week.
Moderate intensity physical activity involves raising your heart rate and feeling a little warmer e.g. brisk walking.
We hope you can join us for our first ever West Lothian Walking Week from 15th - 21st September
- Please contact Laura Dunkel, 01506 775626 or via email at: laura.dunkel@westlothian.gov.uk to book a place and receive a programme
- All walks are free and will be guided by trained staff
Download Programme - Download Poster
Jen White
Physical Activity Co-ordinator
Strathbrock Partnership Centre
189a West Main Street
Broxburn
EH52 5LH
01506 771792
07909 892081