Alloa Saints Football Club has been awarded a grant of £2,805 by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) to enhance coach training.

The club’s membership which totals around 220, with 170 of these being junior members, trains and holds regular matches at Alloa Academy and Clackmannanshire Country Cricket Club. The funding granted by the CRT will enable the Club to train additional coaches, who will then go on to play a key role in accommodating its expansion, as well as address the needs of its rapidly growing membership.

Along with providing training and playing opportunities, the Club educates its players in CPR and defibrillator use, in collaboration with its charity partner Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. Each team has received a defibrillator, with CPR training lined up for all players and parents.

Paul Robertson, the Chair of Alloa Saints FC, said:  “This is a great boost to the Club and allows us to get an additional 30 coaches qualified. We are indebted to the staff at CRT who guided us through the application process. “

Bob Young, CRT Scotland Trustee, added: ‘We’re thrilled to be able to support Alloa Saints FC with facilitating the training of new coaches, as the club delivers a fantastic service to local members and teaches important skills both on and off the pitch’.