months after winning an Innovation Award from the University of Stirling.
The community leagues are rapidly spreading across Scotland and are
proving to be a big hit in improving the health and well-being of those
that take part.
Teams taking part in the league, which will be based at St Margaret’s High
School, will compete for cash prizes and trophies with the community
league running every Sunday from 6-8pm. There is space for 24 teams to
enter and teams will be split into three divisions depending on ability.
Teams will play an intense 30 minute match each week costing £18 and there
are a huge array of awards on offer including: trophies or cash for
winners, individual trophies for runners-up, top goalscorer awards, player
of the season awards and a fair play award. Teams will also have the
opportunity of playing against other teams from leagues across Scotland in
Fivez? national cup.
Fivez Director Stuart Mitchell said, ?We are delighted to have been
offered the brand new facilities at St.Margaret?s High School and are keen
to work in partnership with the NOPES initiative. Our leagues are
organised for the benefit of local communities and the vast array of
awards is sure to prove popular with local teams in Airdrie and the
surrounding villages. Our website is probably the most in depth
small-sided leagues site in the UK and our interactive forum is hugely
popular with over 300 members. We aim to ensure that all teams get maximum
enjoyment from playing, this makes all our hard work running and
maintaining the leagues worthwhile.?
All matches are officiated by qualified referees while Fivez staff will
attend the league each week to ensure the smooth running of fixtures and
to deal with any queries or problems. There is no need for matching kit as
Fivez provide bibs for those teams without kits. Anyone over the age of 16
can enter and you do not need to be an organised or established team, you
may simply be a group of friends, work colleagues or mates from the pub.
The league will be fully affiliated to the SAFA.
Local MSP Karen Whitefield said:
"I welcome any steps to improve the health of local people. Unfortunately
Lanarkshire has some of the worst health statistics in Scotland and it is
vital that we encourage people to become more physically active. I wish
Fivez well on the launch of their new league in Airdrie. This is a great
way to use the new facilities at St Margaret''s and open them up to the
wider community."
The Big Lottery Fund has allocated £750.75 million for the New
Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) initiative throughout the UK.
Fivez are also launching a new league at Tollcross Leisure Centre, Glasgow
in Feb 2006!
Teams are advised to register online at www.fivez.net to avoid
disappointment.
Alternatively those with no internet access can contact Fivez on 01786
458015.