Aileen Campbell, SNP MSP for South of Scotland, recently tried out her skills in the McDonald’s Community Football programme ‘MSPs On The Ball’. The programme, run in partnership with the Scottish Football Association (SFA), enabled all attending MSPs to get an insight into how community coaches are trained.

Each MSP who took part received a donation of football equipment, such as football bibs and balls to give to a local group. Aileen Campbell MSP will be donating the football kit she received to local Minister, Alan Gibson, for the use of his youth football team in Carstairs Junction.

The SFA and McDonald’s Community Football programme, headed by Kenny Dalglish, has created more than 1750 new community coaches across Scotland since 2002. The ‘MSPs On The Ball’ event was held on the 20th November and the many keen MSPs also got the chance to take on Kenny Dalglish and his team of coaches for in a game at the end of the session.

Speaking pitchside, Aileen Campbell MSP said:

"I was really impressed by the effort the coaches put in towards training the kids. I enjoy football and used to play for Glasgow University's women's team, so have a particular interest in girls' football.

"The session was full of fun training drills and it is a great way to keep fit. Everyone who attended the event enjoyed themselves and I will be giving my kit to a local youth football team in Carstairs. It was also great to get the chance to meet Kenny Dalglish, arguably one of the greatest footballers Scotland has ever produced"

Commenting, Kenny Dalglish said:

"The hard work and commitment from these men and women is vital, not only in terms of developing the next generation of Scottish football talent, but in providing the opportunities for kids to enjoy active lifestyles and have fun."