Sun Shines on Station Park Community Coaching

On Saturday 16 April Forfar Athletic welcomed a group of enthusiastic youngsters to the club’s Community Coaching morning organised by Development squad coach Barry Sellars.

39 local boys and girls, ranging in ages from 5 to 13, enjoyed two hours of coaching activities and training drills on the sunny Station Park pitch. Fun was had by all as new skills were learned and a great deal of talent was on display especially in the mini matches. All this took place under the expert direction of Barry and fellow Forfar Athletic coaches Eddie Gray and Ross Graham. It was a real treat for the youngsters to also receive coaching and tips from members of the first team squad with Derek Young, Michael Kennedy, Kerr Hay and Jason King giving up their time to come along. Also helping out were Gus Mailer and Murray McIntosh of the Development squad. One lucky attendee, Kyle Davidson, was given special treatment with dedicated goalkeeping coaching from the Development squad goalkeepers Jack Shaw and Mark Smith.

It was great to see a number of the youngsters proudly wearing their Loons home and away strips among a rainbow of colours of other strips such as Barcelona, Dundee United, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Brazil. One youngster in particular, resplendent in his Dons colours, was delighted to meet Aberdeen legend and now Loon, Derek Young.

The youngest age group was given a special tour behind the scenes of Station Park and were treated to a team talk in the home dressing room which was kitted out with the first team strips for that afternoon’s match against Airdrie. They also met Groundsman Martin Gray who showed them around the bootroom and they even managed to take a wee look into the manager’s office and the referee’s room – rumours of booing being heard at this part of the tour are not true!

At the end of the session a certificate of attendance and ticket for free entry to that afternoon’s game were presented to the boys and girls by Forfar manager, Gary Bollan, assistant Ian Flaherty and Martyn Fotheringham of the first team. To complete an excellent morning the youngsters were able to snap up autographs and photo opportunities with the players and the management team.

A big thanks to all the players, coaches and management team and those who helped with the organisation ahead of the event and on the day including Martin Gray and helpers Lesa Taylor, Aisling Hanly FitzGerald and Louise Huggan. Thanks also to Chairman Alastair Donald, Kelly Ogston and all the staff at Astute who produced flyers, certificates and postcards of the first team players which the kids were delighted to get autographed.

Information about future community coaching days will be posted on the club website and Facebook pages.