Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund

With every year, the legacy of Norrie McCathie grows, as ever-increasing numbers of talented youngsters from West Fife benefit from the high level of coaching excellence that is supported by the fund bearing his name.

As important as encouraging development in football, we aim to encourage the social development of all players, promoting community leadership skills and social equality through sporting achievement.  In fostering this sense of communal responsibility within the squads, we have defined a code of conduct for all squad members.

Participation squad
The first-stage participation section promotes football as a healthy, athletic pursuit, to younger children, aged between five and ten years old. We provide high quality coaching of basic skills in a supportive environment, seeking to allow each child to achieve his or her full potential.

Development squads
With the basic skills established, the Norrie McCathie Development Squads invite youngsters with recognised potential to receive more advanced coaching and preparation for match play, whilst remaining within a supportive environment. Through quality coaching in a friendly and stimulating environment, all our youngsters are encouraged to realise their potential in the game.

For the 2008/2009 season, the Benevolent Fund supports five development squads, ranging in age from birth year 1999 to 1994. We provide each squad with one or two coaching sessions per week throughout the year. The development squads are subject to a monthly subscription fee (currently £25), to help cover the cost of training and playing facilities, training and match kit, and other running costs.

Match play
In the Summer (April through September), the younger development squads participate in the Fife Soccer Sevens programme at Pitreavie in Dunfermline, whilst the senior squads (Under-13s and older) enter the more competitive environments of the Fife or Forth Valley Development Leagues. All these programmes provide the opportunity to compete with children of the same age in a controlled environment, with pitch and goal size appropriate to each age group.

If you have any further questions regarding the Fund or the Squads, please do not hesitate to contact me on 07831 774011.

Come on ye Norries!

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Robertson
Head of Football Development, Norrie McCathie Benevolent Fund