Redpath Albion AFC - Chairman's Views

"Speak when you're angry and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret" (Lawrence J Peter)

Page Updated --- Friday, 28. March 2008

Easter Football Event

Click to Enlarge
Albion coaches in demand at Easter Tournament
Redpath coaches will team up with Pilmeny Youth Centre and Leith Youth Workers Forum
to run a three day event over 1,2 and 3rd April at Leith Community Centre
Local Leith Youth clubs will come together to play in an indoor 7-a-side tournament
Free fruit and water will be provided via a grant from Child Poverty "Dare to Care" campaign
with event costs being met by a grant awarded to Pilmeny Youth Centre from Leith Neighbourhood Partnership's
Community Grant Fund. Hibernian star, Colin Nish and Councillors Gordon Munro an Angela Blacklock
will attend the event to present team prizes.

© Pilmeny Youth Centre

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Trinity Roofing

Albion are delighted to announce that the club have been awarded club of the month for February 2007 by
Mr Ian Mackay of The Edinburgh Evening News.
Redpath Albion have been recognised for their work with young people in Lorne/Pilrig/Bonnington/Broughton/Calton areas of the city
and for it's ongoing community work in the wider Leith Community.
(Details)

Albion's Aussie Connection
Early in 2003 the club was approached by a old club member asking for any surplus kit that could be donated to
help Aboriginal children in the Australian outback. Our club friend was working at an out-post supply station in Gapuwiyak,
Northern Territory, Australia. The out-post serves the local Aboriginal and Farming communities and was so far from civilisation that
the nearest town was a 3 hour drive or flight away. In fact it was so isolated that the local farming communities would actually arrive
by two-seater plane to do their monthly shopping. We were happy to oblige and a full set of kit was handed over and is now worn
by the local Aboriginal Aussie Rules Football Team.
Regular emails are sent to the club from Oz and it would seem Redpath Albion has been adopted by the local community.
Fame at Last!!

Support the Youth and Amateur clubs campaign for improved facilities
by signing the campaign petition
LATEST
Media reports on council pitch promises - Don't be fooled!
On Saturday 4 November, CEC Councillor Donald Anderson was quoted in the Edinburgh Evening News promising that the council will spend almost £168,000
on 'white lining' Edinburgh's football pitches on a regular basis. The press release (can be found here) but the key elements are as follows:
* White Lining of pitches to be introduced by 30 November 2006
* Grass cutting carried out on a ten-day cycle
* Fertiliser Application where required
* Levelling and spiking pitches to help growth and drainage.
All very commendable, but these services are already included in the previous and current 'contract' we enter into when you pay for the park.
Sorry Donald, but we're getting nothing that we haven't already paid for.
For comments on the current campaign and to gauge the climate of unrest among clubs' click here

Details
Support the Youth and Amateur clubs campaign for improved facilities
by signing the campaign petition
Lets get Redpath Albion club members, parents and friends of the club behind the campaign to lobby the City of Edinburgh Council into accepting their responsibility.

Sighthill Park

Double Hedges - Liberton

Warriston

Chairman's Comment

The above pictures are just a small example of the decrepit facilities that sports people, children, youths and adults, are having to endure while pursuing their love of sport.
If you think the outside is bad, the inside is even worse. Plumbing and furnishings were probably installed Circa 1950s and usually devoid of hot water, heating and rarely cleaned.
The four examples are by no means the only facilities under the stewardship of our civic leaders that should be condemned.
Our members could site a dozen more that are not worthy of use. Even relatively newer sports changing facilities such as Seafield, Jack Kane Centre and the Gyle have their problems.
Our club members have to visit and use these facilities regularly throughout the season and please believe us when we say it isn't a pleasant experience.
Our club is delighted to see so many parents turn out in support of our teams when we visit our opponents but it may be time too take a look at the bigger picture.
I'd like to invite parents of our colts and youth teams to examine the changing rooms at many grounds we visit and see for yourself.
I guarantee they'll be disgusted at what's on view. Also, let's also look at the councils obligation on health and safety.
It's mandatory for all public building's to be inspected by environmental health officials at least annually. How many times do the sports changing facilities pass this inspection?
You only need to look at the interiors of many facilities to suspect that they must have problems with vermin infestations.
Toilet utilities rarely function properly. They could be harbouring a number of debilitating diseases!
Are water tanks checked for Legionnaires? Stagnant water can be a killer!
Great stuff, and we're being asked by the council to pay for these facilities. If your travel agent had booked you into any establishments remotely resembling any of the
changing facilities on offer by City of Edinburgh Council, you'd be outraged.
As council tax payers, we have already gifted our hard earned cash to maintain these facilities, but the council ask us to pay again. Ask yourselves why!
I think they call it the 'double whammy'
Youngsters in Edinburgh only want to play football, but they need every adult connected with sport in Edinburgh to push their case for viable investment in
facilities that they can feel comfortable with. They desperately need your support on this issue.
Please follow the above link and sign the petition
We're fast approaching an election year. Council officials have been quoted in the local press recording their commitment to a number of upgrades to changing facilities.
We commend them for this, but they are only 'papering the cracks'. The shameful abdication of their responsibility to
face the many problems encountered by sportsmen and women in this city need will certainly need some long-term investment.
Clubs', including our own, have tried to open dialogue with council officials with a view to negotiating 'partnership working' where clubs' could take
responsible ownership of their local facilities and work with the council on financing the upgrade and maintenance of sports facilities that can be enjoyed by
a number of community organisation's linked to their respective area's. They don't want to know.
Clubs' are trying their best to get council officials to adopt this philosophy. It could be the answer to everyone's problems.
Small grants could be given to ambitious, progressive clubs', with firm and viable plans for development that would benefit their wider communities
This club has a 10-year development plan in place and so do others. These development plans are in the hands of our local elected officials, but the feedback has been limited.
. Clubs' are tying to help with the problems, but the council refuse to acknowledge these clubs' ambitions.
In April 2005 the City of Edinburgh Council published it's long awaited
A CAPITAL COMMITMENT TO SPORT
Quality Pitches for All
Edinburgh’s Sports Pitch Strategy
It's a 67 page report (email us for a copy) and page 63 records that Pilrig Park is a year 3 plan or upgrade costing £60,000 (see below taken from strategy document)
Delighted with news we've repeatedly asked when this work will commence. No answers are forthcoming.
We've since been told, off the record, that the document was "only a wish list" and the funds will never be found for the majority of venue's listed.
That includes Pilrig Park

Pilrig Park

B-Upgrade for pitches

(I) Put porta-cabins in

£20k Pitches, £40k Changing in conjunction with Club Partnership

NEL

Your local councillor will soon be smiling pleasantly and doing the rounds in your community to canvass for your votes
Make sure they know your feeling's on this matter and give sportsmen and women your support in their quest for their rights to comfortable changing facilities.

Email us

Briefing Notes from the
Scottish Football Association's Youth Action Plan
** Many Players - One Goal **

MANY PLAYERS - ONE GOAL

PROGRESS REPORT
Since the launch of the Youth Football Action Plan in March 2004, changes have already taken place in how youth football is structured in Scotland.

Already, key appointments have been made including a new implementation team, the new unified Youth Initiative Leagues are underway with a switch to summer football on the cards, Scotland’s youth squads are all under the SFA’s control, and a streamlined national registration scheme is about to be launched. The drive for change began in October 2002 when the SFA, with backing from Scottish Executive and sportscotland, asked a team of independent consultants to review the structure and development of youth football in Scotland. Its findings and recommendations contributed to the Action Plan for Scottish Youth Football which will now take forward most of the 55 recommendations identified in the review. Most importantly, the plan has provided the basis for an agreement to be reached between the partners, including a viable funding strategy, which ensures the review recommendations will now be put in place.

New team appointed for Youth Action Plan
A new team is now in place to take the Action Plan for Scottish Youth Football forward. Alan MacNab has been appointed Project Implementation Manager, based at the SFA’s Hampden Park headquarters. Alan brings with him many years experience in project management from the business world and is a specialist at managing complex change management projects, having worked extensively in both the public and private sectors in Scotland.
Alan, who takes up his post on 13 December, will be responsible for the overall co-ordination of the plan and will report to SFA Chief Executive David Taylor and work closely with the Action Plan Implementation Group, chaired by SFA President John McBeth and comprising representatives from organisations involved in youth football, sportscotland and local authorities. Tommy McIntyre also joins the team as Head of Youth Development. A former player with Aberdeen, Hibernian and Airdrieonians, Tommy is well known in football circles and has spent the last seven years as a Football Development Officer in North Lanarkshire.

In his new role, reporting to Jim Sinclair, Director of Football Development at the SFA, Tommy will be responsible for developing grassroots football and the technical development of the Youth Initiative Programme, and will set up a coach mentoring system to support youth coaches. He will also act as specialist adviser in youth football programmes to be delivered through the new regional network. Jim Fleeting, who has been the architect of the SFA Community Coaches Scheme, takes over as Head of Regional Programmes. Sheila Begbie had taken up a new position as Head of the Women’s Business Unit, to reflect the continued emphasis on the development of women’s and girls football. And Tommy Wilson has been promoted to Head of Coaching, as well as looking after the U19 International team. The Headquarters team is complete for the time being and, whilst most members of staff will have wider responsibilities, delivery of the Youth Action Plan is a major priority.

Unification of Youth Initiative Leagues
The Scottish FA has taken direct control of the running of the Youth Initiative League programme for season 2004/05, putting in place one of the key recommendations of the Youth Review. This year’s league programme involves 30 senior clubs and covers all elite development football up to and including Under 17 level. It takes forward the successful work undertaken by the SPL by unifying the administration and support for clubs under the Scathe ethos is player development rather than league positions, so results are not rewarded. Matches, however, remain competitive at all levels as players test their skills and abilities against their peer group. The format at matches is three periods of 30 minutes play. Unifying the administration of the Youth Initiative League under the SFA will assist in the planning of international team gatherings and provide a forum for the discussion of a national talent identification and development system. Overall management of the Youth Initiative is now vested in a Sub-committee of the Professional Football Committee of the SFA, chaired by Campbell Ogilvie of Rangers FC. The Sub-committee includes youth coaches from leading clubs and is considering a range of issues concerning youth football at elite level. There is considerable support for switching to a summer season running from February to November and, subject to further discussions, this could be brought in from February 2006.

The introduction of National Performance Criteria for clubs involved in elite youth development has also been agreed by the Professional Football Committee. New standards for youth development, linked to club licensing, are expected to come into force next season. These cover such areas as Coaching and Sports Science, Player Education and Welfare, Facilities, Medical Provision, Scouting and Recruitment and Financial Management. Subject to regular assessment of playing standards, an open policy is to be adopted for any club wishing to apply for National Performance Club status.

SFA takes on the Scotland Under 16 squad

The SFA has now taken over responsibility for the Under 16 national squad from the Scottish Schools’ Football Association. Preparations for this squad start at Under 15 level and a programme of activities is being developed under the supervision of SFA national youth coach, Ross Mathie. One of the major features of this programme is international competition in the Under 16 Victory Shield tournament, which sees Scotland play against England, Wales and Northern Ireland, televised live by Sky Sports. The programme’s long-term aim is the development of players to equip them for elite national team and club competitions.

Success for Under 19 and Under 17 teams
Scotland’s Under 19 and Under 17 international teams have both qualified for the Elite Final Qualification Round for the 2005 UEFA U19 and U17 Championships. The U19 side – with a new management team of Tommy Wilson and Archie Gemmill – qualified at a mini-tournament in Belgium at the expense of Turkey, last year’s beaten finalists.

The U17 side – under Ross Mathie – were also undefeated in their mini-tournament held in Scotland. As with the U19 side, they finished runners-up in the group section, but the top two sides go forward to contest qualification for the Finals Tournament.

Scottish Institute of Sport
After much discussion, agreement has been reached in principle between the Scottish Institute of Sport and the Scottish FA for a new football programme to be introduced focussing initially on the Under 17 Age Group. This will be a 4-year programme, based on co-operation with SPL and SFL clubs, and the introduction of high level programmes of sports science, strength and condition, and individual performance programmes for certain elite players. The aim is to improve both individual and team performance through accessing facilities and support available to all sports through Government funding of the Institute.

Registration of Players
Prior to the start of this season, there were 14 different types of registration forms in Scottish football. This year, the SFA has reduced the number of forms to 7 and the intention next year is to reduce the number of forms to 4, of which only 2 are true registration forms. At youth level, D forms, X forms, S forms and Y forms will all disappear if the latest proposals are approved. The streamlined registration system will then be automated and, ultimately, the aim is to enable online registration of players.

Football Central Website
A test site will be launched at the end of the year for a new website to support club secretaries and volunteers. Development is continuing on a Content Management system but it is hoped to go live sometime next year.

Mini-Pitch Programme
A successful application has been made by the SFA to UEFA for financial support to build up to 64 Mini-Pitches across Scotland. These pitches – which can cater for more than just football – are designed to encourage small-sided games for youngsters. Discussions are underway with central government, local authorities and potential sponsors to put together a funding package to enable this initiative to get underway.

NEW STRUCTURES : NEW STRATEGIES

Revised National Structure
The Action Plan aims to create a single, unified strategy for youth football under the leadership of the SFA. At performance level, this means the Youth Initiative Leagues of the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League should be unified under SFA management. At participation level, this means the SFA should assume responsibility for the national activities of the Scottish Youth FA and the Scottish Schools’ FA. The SFA will also take on more direct responsibility for Scottish Women’s Football.

Regional Structures
New regional development structures will be set up to bring greater co-ordination to the organisation of the game at local level. The intention is to have 6 Regional areas, each supported by a Regional Manager or Co-ordinator. The Regions will be responsible for co-ordinating all youth and schools football in their areas and will have their own membership and voting rights within the SFA. Representatives will be drawn from local authorities, schools leagues, youth leagues, amateur sides, representatives from SPL and SFL clubs, and the semi-professional leagues.

Performance Strategy

Ø Performance Club Criteria
Introducing a national and regional Performance Club Criteria for those clubs developing the most talented young players. The criteria will ensure the highest standards of player development.

Ø Player Pathways
Establishing a clear player pathway - from recreational football to Youth Initiative Leagues to national squads. It is recommended that, in time, Youth Initiative Leagues will become summer leagues for top players - taking place from March to November.

Ø Talent Identification & Development
Introducing and developing a comprehensive national talent identification programme for young players, focusing on tactical, technical, psychological and lifestyle factors. This will ensure appropriate support for individuals as they develop on the player pathway.

Ø Facilities
Improved access to quality facilities for talented young players, through the implementation of the Scottish Executive’s National and Regional facilities strategy.

Grass Roots Strategy

Ø Increasing Participation
Additional support and investment provided to schools to increase participation, and to youth football clubs to strengthen club and community development.

Ø Ensuring Quality
Introducing a Quality Mark system for coaching and development centres, schools and community clubs – as well as SPL, SFL and other clubs that meet agreed criteria towards planned development.

Ø National Registration System
Introducing a new simplified National Registration System for all players over 12 years of age, co-ordinated and administered by the governing body.

Ø Basic Skills Training
Establishing basic skills training for the under 7s, and ensuring all under 12s boys and girls football is small sided.

Ø Regional Football Centres
Creating six regional football centres, with each becoming a hub for football development within each of the regions proposed under the new regional football alliances structure.

Ø Coach Education
Implementing a full review of coach education courses – including a more gradual introduction to the Youth Licence course.

Ø Volunteers
Developing a system of courses and materials to encourage new volunteers to football – as well as establishing a national and regional structure to support and reward existing volunteers.

CHANGES: THE WAY FORWARD

The youth football review recommended 55 changes to improve the structure and development of youth football in Scotland. While some of the recommendations aim to improve the structure of Scottish football, many deal with encouraging participation across all levels of the game, and improving performance at grassroots level - which can have an immediate and positive impact on the youth game across Scotland.

The Action Plan therefore recommends increased investment in youth football, linked to changes in the way that youth football is organised and managed in Scotland. Youth football requires a stronger voice within the game’s internal structure. And the professional structure of the SFA, and its associated bodies, needs to reflect better the specific requirements of the youth game.

Where the money comes from

To fund the Youth Football Action Plan, the SFA has agreed significant support from the Scottish Executive and sportscotland which will result in a total funding package of £31.1 million being put to implement major changes over a 10-year period. The funding sources for the Action Plan are as follows:

Ø SFA: £10 million

Ø Public funding (through sportscotland) £12.2 million

Ø Community programmes £8.9 million*

*This funding is currently invested into community football programmes by the SFA (£4.5 million) and local authorities (£4.4 million). In consultation with the local authorities, discussions will take place to focus support for the Youth Football Action Plan.

Targets

The Action Plan will create a structure allowing a clear route of progression for all young players in Scotland. Overall, this aims to increase player participation in Scotland by 20%. More specific targets set by the Action Plan are:

Year	Action Plan Target
2004/5	All regional and national representative squads under SFA control
2004/5	Unified Youth Initiative Programme involving SPL and SFL clubs
2004/5	Implement a new professional staffing structure for the SFA
2004/5	Small-sided football established for all primary age schoolchildren
2004/5	Establish regional alliance in each local area in Scotland
2005/6	Publish guidance and criteria to support clubs with funding
2005/6	Introduce a new integrated registration system for football in Scotland
2007	Scottish Women’s team target play-offs for 2007 World Cup
2008	300 clubs achieve the new Quality Mark
2008	Regional football centres established
2010	Regular qualification for all major international competitions – an achievable goal
2015	FIFA ranking of men’s senior team sustainable in world top 25

What Happens Now?

An implementation group bringing together the SFA, the Scottish Executive and sportscotland is taking the Action Plan forward. This will involve a region-wide consultation and communications programme bringing together all the individuals, groups and organisations that initially contributed to the review.

One of the key tasks for Alan MacNab, the new Implementation Manager, is to set up regional structures to support the development of youth football in Scotland. A series of public consultation meetings will be arranged, at which specific proposals will be presented. Key stakeholders will be invited and details will be posted on the SFA website.

* Club Forum *

After the loss of the ' intheteam club forum ' last month the club was undecided whether to continue with any future forums. Feedback from players' on whether to construct another one was patchy and the idea was shelved, partly because the club were unable to find a forum that allowed the forum moderator to censor and 'police' posting's. Well, Proboards Free Forums' may solve this problem. Proboards may be the answer.
A dedicated forum provider Proboards will only allow members to access the new threads boards and we will also be at liberty to censor and delete posts and threads that are deemed derogatory. We'll give it a try and see how it goes. But usual rules apply regarding posts.
Any Ungentlemany Conduct as the ref says...will be red carded.

Sign up now at
http://redpathalbion.proboards21.com

Any problems signing up..Email the Chairman

MANY PLAYERS - ONE GOAL

PROGRESS REPORT Since the launch of the Youth Football Action Plan in March 2004, changes have already taken place in how youth football is structured in Scotland.

SFA takes on the Scotland Under 16 squad

PROGRESS REPORT
Since the launch of the Youth Football Action Plan in March 2004, changes have already taken place in how youth football is structured in Scotland.