Local sporting stars who have gone the extra mile and shown outstanding talent will be celebrated at Aberdeen’s Sports Awards this October.

Aberdeen FC Community Trust is delighted to have three volunteers shortlisted as finalists in various categories as well as Northfield Academy, whom the Trust work in close partnership with.

Aberdeen’s Sports Awards celebrates the wealth of sporting achievements and contributions made by local athletes, volunteers and clubs in encouraging individuals to be active.

Fraser Burnett has been nominated for the Junior Coach of the Year Award. Fraser coaches at various venues across the city, leads weekly FootGolf activity at Hazelhead golf course and delivers breakfast and after-school sessions for pupils at Seaton primary.

Fraser also regularly volunteers at Technogym and Walking Football sessions for over 65’s, he has also completed training and delivers a health and wellbeing project for males over the age of 35.

Over the last year Fraser had gone above and beyond to give back to the local community, providing opportunities to local children, over 35s and over 65s all while studying full-time at North East Scotland College.

Jenna McDonald has been shortlisted for Junior Volunteer of the Year. Jenna has been volunteering with AFCCT for over a year and a half and has contributed an outstanding 600+ hours of her own time, helping at various initiatives with young children and supporting over 65s and those living with dementia.

The time Jenna has given to the Trust has directly resulted in benefits to the wider community, in several different ways. A key example of this has been her ability to become a female role model to young girls and aspiring female footballers across the region. Inspired by the recent Women’s EUROS in Holland, many young girls have taken up football in recent months and one of the first entry points to football in Aberdeen is the Kim Little Soccer Centre, held on a weekly basis. Jenna has been volunteering at this session, as well as a weekly football session for girls, held in partnership with the Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre.

While those from ethnic and religious minority backgrounds may face barriers to participation in sport, this is often magnified for females within these communities. The volunteering Jenna has committed at this project has given these young girls a role model to look up to and an example of a female achieving in sport.

The time Jenna is willing to spend with participants and partners within the multiple programmes she’s involved in are what sets her apart from many other volunteers. It is not within the volunteer job description to take the extra time to speak with various stakeholders out with the sessions and programme activity, however it is crucial to achieving the key outcomes and building stronger relationships with local communities. Jenna has recognised this and her strong personality and friendly manner have made her a strong asset to the Community Trust.

Kenny Clubb has been nominated for the Adult Volunteer of the Year Award. Kenny Clubb through his own initiative established a school team at Culter Primary School back in 2005.

Through football, Kenny has gone over and above on many occasions to ensure he provides a positive an experience for his young players, from buying strips, training wear and training equipment to cutting the grass, Kenny is forever giving up his time doing everything in his power to enable children to have the opportunity to play football and develop as young people as well as young players.

Back in 2005, Kenny started off as a willing coach keen to provide his children with the opportunity to play the game, since then through his commitment and efforts he has impacted much more than the children he has coached and their families, he has contributed to the development and sustainability of Primary Schools Football in the North East of Scotland and has contributed to the development of many coaches.

Kenny continues to use football as a learning tool to bring people together.  

Northfield Academy have been nominated for Secondary School of the Year. AFCCT work in close partnership with the school and in 2016, it was identified that there was a lack of football opportunities in the Northfield community for children who were not currently playing for a primary or club team with various barriers preventing these children from playing football.

To break the barriers an AFCCT participation centre was put in place to provide free, affordable football sessions to increase participation of children in the area, while also ensuring the inclusion of those from ethnic and religious minority backgrounds, creating a football environment which reflects the diverse make-up of the area.
It was agreed that there would be a participation centre for boys primary 1 – 7, and a girls only session at the same time, initially targeting primary 3 – 5.

Children were identified to benefit from the participation centre and the girls only sessions through the AFCCT Red Start programme.

To identify the girls, Active Schools partnered with Jo Murphy, the SFA Girl’s and Women’s Development Officer and organised a girls football festival in September 2016 and invited all of the local Northfield primary schools and some of the other surrounding schools, including some from Hazlehead and Bucksburn.

On the day, there were around 350 girls from primary 3 – Primary 5 that took part in the festival, and on the back of this, two new girls sessions start up at Northfield Academy.

The continued partnership between AFCCT, the SFA, Northfield Academy PE department and Active Schools have all played important parts for the participation centres at Northfield Academy to run, and continue to grow.
Initially, the participation centres ran for boys P1-3, and P4-7, and girls P3-P5, but it has grown and we have opened it up to girls P1-3 and P4-7.

The ceremony, hosted by the Active Aberdeen Partnership, will be held at the AECC on Thursday 26th October with 18 categories in the running.

Good luck to all the finalists from AFCCT!