A local youth football team are celebrating, having received a top award for their desire to achieve and support of the community.
Executives behind Penicuik Athletic Youth Football Club (PAYFC) attended the Scottish Football Association’s award evening on Saturday 23 January to be presented with their “Legacy” Quality Mark, their highest honour.
The event, held in Hibernian FC’s Easter Road stadium, gathered all the south east of Scotland’s football clubs who were to receive a Quality Mark for their work. The Quality Mark is the Scottish FA’s accreditation programme designed to support and recognise the work of grassroots clubs who have a desire to be the very best they can. For PAYFC, only the best would do, as they took to the stage to receive the top ‘Legacy’ Mark.
Each of the four Quality Mark award levels, Standard, Development, Community and Legacy, relate to a list of criteria on areas such as club structure, coach education and administration. Legacy is the highest level which means that PAYFC has achieved every requirement of the Quality Mark programme.
Jason Hewitt, Chairman of PAYFC commented:
This achievement is down to the tremendous work performed by all our volunteers, we very much hope that this is just the start of big things to come for the club and the community in Penicuik. Coach Education was a huge focus for us in 2015 and the club would like to say a massive thank you to all the PAYFC Coaches for the extra time and commitment they gave to attend the Scottish FA Coaching Courses and assist the Club in achieving the highest Quality Mark that the Scottish FA offer.
On behalf of PAYFC, I’d like to thank all the Players, Coaches, Volunteers and Parents that have been involved in the club over the last 60 years and supported us in achieving this award.
PAYFC currently have 389 players within the club from age 4+, with 67 Coaches over 27 Teams, including a growing girls’ section made up of 60+ Players. They have used the power of their growing football club to touch on as many aspects of the community as possible including running an annual 10 week Midnight League Programme. This starts again on Friday 29th January 2016, 8pm – 9.30pm on the Penicuik Astro (free game of football for 12 – 16 year olds).
The Club also arrange a twice yearly Food Bank Collection and heavily participate in the town’s annual Hunter & Lass and Penicuik on parade celebrations. PAYFC work in partnership with the Penicuik Harriers Running Club, volunteering at the Penicuik annual 10K Road Race while their players also receive sprint coaching from Harriers’ Athletics Coach, Susie Maxwell.
Another group to receive support from the club is Penicuik’s Walking Football group, they meet at Ladywood Leisure Centre every Friday morning for a game of football and a cup of tea/coffee and chat afterwards. PAYFC is now also offering a Youth Coaching Programme where players age 16-17 can assist to coach the younger players within the club and have the opportunity to complete Scottish FA Coaching Courses in the Child Pathway and referee courses.
The football club welcome any new players and are also looking for new volunteers to assist with any of the roles within the club.
To find out more, visit our website www.PAYFC.net, ‘like’ the club Facebook page at Penicuik Atheletic Youth Football Club or follow us on twitter @PenicuikAthYFC .