Aberdeen FC is proud to be a thriving, community driven football club who aim to have a positive impact far beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch
. We recognise our unique standing in the local community and appreciate the importance of giving something back as we actively engage with the local communities that support and sustain the club.
Here is a small taster of the recent activity that various representatives of the football club have undertaken this past fortnight in our efforts to interact with our local community.
Aberdeen Football Club and mobility specialists Able Care have combined to help former Dons defender Jim Walker become mobilised again after having part of his right leg amputated last year. The 79 year old, a keen bowler, had been left virtually housebound following the amputation which had been caused by circulation problems before the Dons and Able Care stepped in to secure a motorised wheelchair for the Inverurie based ex-player. Below is a photo of Jim with Jake Mearns from Able Care and Aberdeen FC’s Vice Chairman, George Yule.
AFC in the Community held the Tesco Bank Football Challenge Festival which was attended by pupils from Elrick, Westhill and Skene Primary School Lawsondale Playing Fields on the morning of the 24th April. The schools were the latest to have taken part in six weeks of coaching sessions as part of the Scottish FA’s flagship participation programme and came together for a finale to remember.
On Saturday 11th May, Ally Prockter and Steven Sweeney, of AFC in the Community, headed to St Machar Public Park to meet with Tillydrone FC, a group of 50 gentleman of West African descent who have been gathering every Saturday for 7 years to play football. AFC went along and gifted the Club with some AFC strips, new footballs and bibs. Tillydrone FC have also been invited to attend the final SPL match of the season v Hearts.
Pittodrie Stadium acted as the venue on 7th and 8th May for the 4v4 festivals hosted by Scottish FA in conjunction with the Aberdeen District Juvenile FA. The event was kindly sponsored by Apache North Sea which saw 500 kids between 6 – 8 years old take to the pitch over the two nights.
AFC were pleased to donate a selection of kit for pupils from Harlaw Academy to take to Rwanda during their visit on 17 May. 10 third year pupils, 2 teachers and representatives from the charity will be working on the Rwandan School Village Project (RSVP), www.rsvp.org.uk
On Friday 10 May RGU students ran a Kicks 4 Clan event which celebrated the 30th Anniversary of both CLAN and the Gothenburg Greats. The event was supported by AFC in the Community which saw around 40 pupils from Kaimhill Primary attend and receive a coaching session led by Aberdeen College students. Neil Simpson, Jim Leighton and Angus the Bull attended the event.
