Tuffey lends a lend
Friday 20th November 2009
Thistle goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey gave our Community Development project a hand last night when he visited Govanhill in the south side of the city. For several weeks now, the club and trust have been working with Govanhill Youth Project to offer open coaching sessions and football practice to the young people of the area. The two hour long sessions run every Thursday and are free to anyone who wishes to attend. Every week we have a few coaches Alfie coaching the males and Sinead and Ami coaching the females. Jonny had hoped to assist our community coaches by taking last night's session himself, but due to the adverse weather conditions the pitch was unplayable and only a short penalty taking session was possible.
"This is great work the Youth Project are doing down here. Although the numbers were down tonight - for obvious reasons - I know that from a start of only a handful there are now over thirty attending regularly.”
Jonny was introduced to the staff at Govanhill Youth Project and to our community coaches Sinead Gormally and Alfred Archer at the Project's offices in Butterbiggins Road where was given an insight into the work they do in the area before meeting some of the young people (pictured below).
"I know that the kids are really enjoying the stuff the Youth Project and the club are doing down here. This is something we should be building on."
It is hoped the project in Govanhill will provide a model that the club will be able to roll out in other areas of the city. Jags Trust/Community Director Kieron Dempsey said "For a club like ours, proactive community engagement of this sort is a must. Working in partnership like this provides us with a long-term, grassroots community programme that fits the needs of the local area. The kids down here have been great and it has been fantastic to have Jonny come down and support the work we have been doing."
