The Eric Bennet Memorial Festival took place this weekend, and young footballers had a whale of a time on the grounds of the Barony Campus.

Multiple age groups played five-a-sides and seven-a-sides across three days while parents, coaches and spectators cheered from the sidelines.

The conduct of everyone was superb and it was great to see football back again.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Derek King at CJCE said: “To say it was challenging organising our Youth Football Festival would be an understatement. The easy thing to do would definitely have been to cancel.

“However anyone who knows me well, will know that grassroots football is a huge part of my life and I have struggled as I watched our beautiful game suffer over the last 16 months. I was persistent and stubborn to a point. Our young players needed something to look forward to.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“I must thank Keith Stewart and Joe McDonald from East Ayrshire Council who helped prepare. Thank you to Greig Russell and his staff at East Ayrshire Leisure for their support. Thank you to Scott Guy and East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities for their support.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“Massive thanks to Fraser Lowrie, our janitor at the Barony Campus who was a wee diamond. Thank you to my work colleague Ryan McGregor who was by my side carrying out many duties.”

Cumnock Chronicle:

The list of thanks went on. Well done to everyone involved.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle: