Murieston United honoured with prestigious SFA award

Apr 14 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

MURIESTON United Community FC have been recognised for their contribution to grassroots football with the inaugural Scottish FA’s South East Region Community Club of the Year Award.

The West Lothian club, which since being founded in 1985 has grown from one team to 24 for children and youth players, and includes a full pathway for girls into the women’s game, were honoured for their hard work in the community.

Livingston FC pair Keaghan Jacobs and Jason Talbot made the presentation to the club, which has over 500 players, many of whom came from a soccer school started 15 years ago.

In 2009, Murieston becoming the first club from West Lothian to win the Scottish FA’s Community Quality Mark Award.

The club also offers a goalkeeping school, midnight league football for disengaged youths and is now looking to move into disability football.

Scottish FA Club Development Manager David Drummond said: “Murieston United have a fantastic group of individuals working there, which has seen them achieve an excellent facility that provides young players with a great platform to develop as footballers.

“What strikes me most when I walk into the club rooms is the tremendous sense of togetherness from the coaches, players, parents and officials.

“They are a real community-led football club and we hold them in the highest regard.”

Gwen Christie, honorary president, was thrilled to receive the award from the Scottish FA. He said: “We are absolutely delighted to be presented with this award, especially as the club celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

“The club is run by a very committed and dedicated committee of volunteers who carry out our ethos of providing a safe environment for everyone to train and play football.”

Alistair Shaw, Head of Area Services for West Lothian Council, said: “At West Lothian Council, we hold this club up as a model of great practice in every sense.

“To cater for so many players and establish a network of keen and enthusiastic coaches is a fantastic achievement.

“We are immensely proud to have a club like Murieston United delivering grassroots football in West Lothian and to be the inaugural winners of this award for the south east of Scotland is great credit to everyone involved at the club.”

Livingston midfielder Keaghan Jacobs added: “Murieston United do a brilliant job for so many young footballers and now have a great place to train and play.

“We use their pitch for training, so it’s nice to see them getting this award for all their hard work.”