Academy coach up for top SFA award
Soccerstarkevinshortlistedfor servicestograssrootsfootball
Blantyre Soccer Academy’s head coach has been shortlisted for the 2017 People’s Award for his services to grassroots football.
Kevin O’neil scooped the Scottish Football Association’s volunteer coach of the year for the south west region, leading to him being put forward for the national award.
Kevin heads up the Academy, with approximately 400 registered players, overseeing all football matters for the full pathway from 2012’s to amateurs and a Disability Section.
He has been one of the main driving forces behind the Academy’s success, which has seen them win the Community Club of the Year at last year’s SFA Awards and successfully secure funding for the Academy to appoint a part-time administrator and business development manager.
Kevin also organises the Annual Reamonn Gormley Festival, which attracts more than 4000 players over two weekends.
Kevin told the Advertiser this week: “I’m delighted to have been nominated for the People’s Award to represent Blantyre Soccer Academy coaches, staff and parent volunteers who work tirelessly every day to make our Academy such a fantastic place for children in Blantyre to participate in football in a fun, safe, developmental environment.”
Voting for the People’s Award opened on August 27 and will run until September 17. Entries can be submitted on the Scottish FA website: http:// grassroots.scottishfa.co.uk/
The winner, who receives the highest number of supporting votes, will be announced at the 2017 Grassroots Awards ceremony at Hampden Park on September 21.
I’m delighted to represent the coaches, staff and parent volunteers who work tirelessly to make our academy such a fantastic place