Kicks off again 11th January at Strikers
Aberdeen FC first team players Scott Vernon and Michael Hector have thrown their backing behind the Bank of Scotland Midnight Leagues programme which offers youngsters of the North East the chance to enjoy free Saturday night football.
The diversionary football project, run in conjunction with Police Scotland, Strikers Indoor Football, AFCITC, Stagecoach Bluebird, the Scottish FA and the Cashback for Communities scheme, offers all S1-S5 pupils in the Aberdeen area access to take part in the active and enjoyable 5-a-side games programme.
The objective of the Bank of Scotland Midnight Leagues is to reduce anti-social behaviour whilst engendering a community spirit and building good relations between local police officers and young people across Scotland.
The 2014 season of Bank of Scotland Midnight Football will start on Saturday 11th January and will again be held at Strikers Indoor Football. The event is split into two age groups – 1st and 2nd year pupils and then 3rd, 4th and 5th years with the winners of each group going forward to represent Aberdeen at regional finals.
The event is free for those participating and also includes free transport from their school to the venue and back again at the end of the session. This is provided by Stagecoach.
Police Scotland take an active role in overseeing the transport to and from Strikers and the games at Strikers to ensure the safety of all involved. Sergeant Karen Main of their Antisocial Behaviour Unit says:
“Police Scotland and Aberdeen City Division in particular, are once again proud to be part of the Midnight Leagues Initiative.We have worked well over the previous years with our partners to deliver this key diversionary event for youths across the city, providing them with free access to an excellent facility and keeping them off the streets.Over 200 youths took part in the event this year and we are now taking entries for the 2014 event. If any youths from across the City would like to enter a team, the forms are available at their school, Pittodrie Stadium, Strikers at the Bridge of Don or alternatively they can contact myself through our Service Centre on 101.I would like to thank our partners involved in running this, without whom, it would prove difficult to provide such a worthwhile event.”
AFC Community Coach Scott Duncan added:
“The Midnight Leagues has proved highly popular and successful in previous years and we’re sure the 2014 programme will be no different. The initiative gives Youths in the area the opportunity to play football on a Saturday night free of charge in a great indoor facility. As well as giving the participants something positive to look forward too, we have also found the initiative benefits the local community. We would like to thank all our partners for their continued support including the Scottish FA, Bank of Scotland, Stagecoach, Strikers Indoor Football and Police Scotland.”
For further information and to complete your application form speak to your School Liason Officer, visit www.strikersfootball.com or alternatively contact Sergeant Karen Main as detailed above.
