HP Sports Trust Scores Cash Award

The awards have been set up by the charity to recognise the work being done by community football groups throughout the UK that aim to get more children playing football and enjoying physical exercise.

The intention of the HPST is to use the award to help finance a set of three-quarters size goalposts that are appropriate for under -13 to under -15 football practice and matches, as well as some football equipment to help support training.

Commenting on behalf of the Trust, the HPST Secretary, Robin Yellowlees, said: “This is great news for the trust. Our plan is to create an appropriate sized football pitch, possibly at Grandtully, specifically for young players and we can use these funds to finance goalposts for the pitch.

“It is our opinion that too often we see young players playing on full size adult pitches with tiny goalkeepers having to defend huge goals. It is detrimental to their skill development.

“Playing on a smaller pitch means more touches for each player and encourages movement and accurate passing.”

The award ceremony was attended by Mark Munro, the SFA Regional Manager for the East Region, Tayside and Fife. He commented: “This is a well deserved award for the Highland Perthshire Sports Trust. They have been very pro-active in promoting and organising new opportunities for children’s and youth football through a series of small sided game festivals, team shaping sessions with the local club teams and through the establishment of a Community Football Academy for the area.

“It is a fine example of community sports development that we are trying to encourage across the whole of Scotland.”