March 21 – German discount supermarket chain Lidl, which last November announced three-year sponsorship deals with the English, Scottish and Welsh Football Associations, has begun activation of that sponsorship in Scotland with an event at lesser Hampden in Glasgow.
In Scotland, Lidl is an official grassroots partner of the Scottish FA, official supplier of selected products to the Scottish FA, and title sponsor of the Lidl Skills Centres.
The programme, which provides opportunities for boys and girls aged five to 12 of all abilities, incorporates the 12 current Scottish FA 2020 Development Centres (rebranded as Lidl Advanced Skills Centres).
Lidl’s sponsorship to targeted at providing opportunities in communities all over Scotland for boys and girls aged 5 to 12 years old to participate in football in a fun, friendly and safe environment. By 2018, Lidl’s partnership will mean that 300 Skills Centres across Scotland will be benefitting from improved kit, equipment, coaching resources and marketing support.
Lidl also plans to host a series of Family Days at various locations across Scotland. They will be used to give boys and girls an informal and interactive coaching taster and encourage them to sign up to their local Lidl Skills Centre. The Family Days will include various football related challenges, including a reaction challenge, a speed cage, a dribble zone and coaching from Scottish FA qualified coaches. The Royal Highland Show, which last year attracted 190,000 visitors, will be one of a number of events used to help to drive sign-ups from boys and girls from all over Scotland.
Jim Fleeting, Scottish FA Director of Football Development said at the launch of the pgramme: “Grassroots football in Scotland will benefit from this exciting partnership with Lidl and we are grateful for their support. The Scottish FA’s community scheme will deliver a wide range of participation initiatives, including equality, diversity and inclusion, through our network of partners. These areas will be enhanced greatly and we look forward to working in partnership with Lidl to achieve the collective objective of increasing football participation across Scotland.”
Watch the video featuring Scottish stars Darren Jackson and Suzanne Grant as well as Glasgow school children being put through their paces at lesser Hampden.
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