Aberdeen FC Community Trust’s mascot Donny the Sheep was on hand on Friday to help launch the 2015 Denis Law Soccer Tournament!

The tournament is set to return bigger and better than ever this summer, after undergoing a major revamp. 
The event was launched in 2011 in conjunction with the Denis Law Legacy Trust and saw a number of Under-16 sides from across the world compete against each other.

However, this year the event has been turned into a celebration of the sport and will be called the Denis Law Legacy Trust Community Football Festival.

Instead of the U16 competition, there will be a number of football events which will be run across a number of weeks.

The festival will be run at Aberdeen Sports Village, in conjunction with Aberdeen FC, the AFC Community Trust, the SFA and Streetsport. 

Across June and July a number of football events will be held – from a kids’ festival week to walking football. 
Speaking at the launch, Senior SFA Community Coach, Steven Sweeney outlined why Aberdeen FC Community Trust are happy to help deliver this event.

“Aberdeen FC Community Trust is delighted to be a delivery partner of the Denis Law Community Festival. We are delighted to be working alongside the Denis Law Legacy Trust, Aberdeen Sports Village, StreetSport and the Scottish FA to celebrate all that is good about our national game.

“We are delighted to support thousands of local people participating in physical activity throughout the Festival, and hope this will inspire many to continue be more active, more often.”

Aberdeen Sports Village events manager Graham Morrison revealed the decision had been made to try to include as many people in the Granite City as possible, with up to 2,000 participants expected to be involved. 

“The change we have made is to try to make sure more people in the city benefit,” Graham said. 

“The elite tournament was great and served its purpose, but we think this is the better way to go. 

“By the end of the festival we will have targeted pre-school kids with the SFA Mini Kickers, right through to older adults with the walking football. 

“So everyone has a chance to get involved, whether that is teams or just individuals who want to play. We are expecting this will engage with up to 2,000 people if every event is sold out.”

With a range of different activities, Graham believes there is something for anyone who wants to get involved. 
“There will be a kids’ football festival, free for Primary Four to Seven pupils,” he said. 

“We also have a couple of adult leagues planned, which will run for the duration of the football festival. They are open to anyone to take part in. 

“In addition to that there will also be a corporate 7s league, on a Monday and a Tuesday evening.

“Also, we have a coach education week, where for four days in July the SFA will be putting people through their coaching badges.

“There will also be a Streetsport football festival, where children from seven different communities will be supported by the Legacy Trust. 

“There is an over-35 festival, which is something the SFA are really keen on.

“From June 9 onwards we also have walking football, which again is targeting a different group.

“The point of the whole festival is to target as many people as possible of all ages to play football.

“We want to change the ethos of the event, where we will get as many people, no matter how old or young, male or female, anyone can come and give it a go.”