thanks to partnership with Aberdeen International Airport Community Panel.

AFC in the Community this week offered FREE FOOTBALL for local children this summer thanks to a generous new partnership with Aberdeen International Airport Community Panel.

Up to 500 children, aged between 5 and 12 years old, were given the opportunity to participate in a day of football activity across five City venues, including Northfield, Bucksburn, Torry, Seaton and Tillydrone during week 6 of the AFC Summer Holiday Programme.

The Summer Holiday Programme 2013 aims to help children increase their football skills and confidence in a safe and fun environment. As with all of the AFC Coaching Programmes, the emphasis will be on skill development and small sided games.

Steven Sweeney, Senior SFA Community Coach at AFC said. “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Aberdeen Airport to provide this opportunity for so many children across the City. Our Summer Holiday Programme has been busier than ever this year, but we are keen to make football coaching available to all children in Aberdeen. This Programme opens doors for children who under normal circumstances may or may not have been able to attend our activities. The Club have launched our new Talent ID System, so the AFC Scouts will be out and about round the venues.

The Aberdeen International Airport Community Panel is a grant-making group, under the registered governance of the LHR Airports Trust. Last year the Aberdeen panel distributed over £80,000 to charities and community groups in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire regions, from £200 up to £50k.

Sarah Campbell is the panel chair. She said: “Our ability to support projects which directly encourage kids into sport is something which we are extremely proud of and the ‘AFC in the Community Football Festival’ absolutely fits that bill. The fact that these sessions will be run in some areas impacted by the presence of the airport is also a huge boost and demonstrates our commitment to working together with other North-east organisations to support our neighbours where we can.

“We hope that we will be able to work alongside AFC in the Community in future years, and on other equally interesting and engaging projects, but in the first instance we are looking forward to this festival getting underway. Who knows, we may even find some AFC stars of the future.”