Ayrshire College’s Jo Love Soccer Centre has celebrated its one-year anniversary.
Providing girls aged between five and 12 the opportunity to take part in organised football, the Jo Love Soccer Centre is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Football Association (SFA), East Ayrshire Active Schools, Vibrant Communities and Ayrshire College – who host the weekly sessions on their 4G football pitch at the Kilmarnock Campus.
Female Sport and Fitness students at the college volunteer as coaches for the SFA’s football initiative, which is named after Glasgow City and Scotland midfielder Joanne Love and is run at five clubs across the west of Scotland.
Over 50 girls were at the latest football sessions and were presented with brand new football kits donated by sports equipment shop Only Sport and sportswear company Kelme to mark the one-year milestone. The kits were emblazoned with Love’s name on the back and themed around the college’s ‘Passing Positivity’ campaign.
Ian McCallum, Director at Only Sport Ltd, said: “Sport is an excellent way to bring communities together, and encourage involvement and participation at all levels. Being active through sport is a great step forward to feeling and becoming more positive.”
Passing Positivity was a campaign launched earlier this year by HND Coaching and Developing Sport students at the college, highlighting the positive benefits that sport can have on people, particularly on their mental health and wellbeing.
HNC Coaching and Developing Sport student Tammy McLean, said: “Everyone is so committed to the centre and we have all built a great bond with coaches, the children, parents and staff at Ayrshire College. We focus on developing the girls’ confidence, communication skills and their football skills.”
Scottish Football Hall of Fame member Rose Reilly attended the session at Ayrshire College to talk to participants about her experiences in women’s football.
A dance club and a football club for secondary school aged females are in the pipeline for the college’s second semester.
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