The Active Schools and Community Sport team set up the Machars primary schools football league as a pilot over the 2016 academic year with eight teams involved from seven schools. Fixtures have been held monthly since early March, with each school playing host on one occasion and the grand final at Blairmount 3G on the 7th June.
The aim was to bring the schools together to allow Club players to showcase their skills and also to inspire youngsters who enjoy playing but perhaps who feel club football is a step too far for them to pull on their shirts and proudly represent the badges of their school.
Following a round robin format, the teams were then seeded according to the results. On the finals night at Blairmount 3G, the top four seeds played in a pool and the remaining teams played in a group to decide overall standings.
The matches throughout the course of the weeks were played in good spirits with all the boys and girls giving 100% with an excellent display of sportsmanship.
Results were as follows:
1st Creetown 5th Minnigaff
2nd Penninghame A 6th Port William
3rd Kirkcowan 7th Penninghame B
4th Wigtown 8th Kirkinner
It has been a learning curve for the organisers who are keen to make it an annual feature in the growing sporting calendar. There was great support from not only the children involved but from the whole Machars community. Kind parents and Galloway Thistle Football Club volunteers took up various roles including coaching squads, transporting teams and refereeing games. Senior pupils from the Douglas Ewart High School also helped referee/time keep/score games and Allan Jenkins, Community Coach from Stranraer FC supervised a number of venues.
Councillor Tom McAughtrie, Chairman of Dumfries and Galloway Council Communities Committee commented: “It is great to see the local schools coming together to enjoy sport in this competitive yet fun environment.The success of the league is down to a super team effort from this small community and it has allowed the children to flourish, get active and proudly represent their school. Well done to all involved.”
