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Sports Minister Shona Robison and SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan formally launched the Livingston Youth Foundation at 11.30am on Tuesday 17th January 2012 at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, Livingston.
The principal aim of the Foundation is to increase participation in football among West Lothian’s boys and girls. The Foundation is a registered charity and has five key partners in West Lothian Council, West Lothian College, West Lothian Leisure, Livingston Football Club and the SFA.
The Foundation’s expected outcomes include: improved health and fitness for West Lothian youngsters, a rediscovery of the fun in active play, stronger boys and girls teams across the County and a successful professional club in West Lothian.
The Foundation brings together the resources of its key partners to offer a consolidated programme of football activities and coaching courses from season 2012/2013.
The Foundation is pleased to announce that 5 former Youth Team players have agreed to become Founder Members of the Foundation, and their endorsements are attached to this Press Release.
For more information contact Gordon Ford at gjf_broughton@hotmail.com or Leigh Robertson at leigh.robertson@livingstonfc.co.uk
The Board of Trustees comprises:
| Dave McDougall |
Chair |
| Gordon Ford |
Chief Executive |
| Andrew Miller |
Councillor |
| Mhairi Laughlin |
Principal of West Lothian College |
| Robin Strang |
General Manager, West Lothian Leisure |
| Charles Burnett |
Livingston Football Club |
| Lorraine Durie |
West Lothian Council |
| Stuart Lovell |
Ex Professional Footballer and former Livingston FC Captain |
| Brian Ewing |
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| Rab McKechnie |
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| Derek Milne |
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| Andrew Purdie |
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| Jack Brown |
West Lothian Football |
Founder Members
| Graham Dorrans |
West Bromwich Albion FC |
| James McPake |
Coventry City FC |
| Robert Snodgrass |
Leeds United FC |
| Murray Davidson |
St Johnstone FC |
| Andrew Halliday |
Middlesborough FC |
And these founder members were quick to recall their enjoyable times with the club:
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Graham Dorrans
‘Looking back on my Livingston career, in the early days when the Club laid on a minibus to transport me to allow me to train three times a week at the stadium. This was a great benefit and allowed me to progress through the Youth Teams and finally into the first team, which gave me great sense of achievement. Livingston gave me a great platform to make the step to the Premiership in England with West Bromwich Albion, and further recognition with the National Team. I'm sure the Foundation will give the opportunity for young boys and girls in West Lothian to achieve their goals.’ |
James McPake
‘Being at Livingston FC for 9 years, I experienced the highs and lows, but one thing that remained the same was that the Club recognised the importance of the Youth set-up, which I was part of. I was honoured to be team Captain for 2 seasons and the guidance given to me during my time has enabled me to make the move to the English Championship League with Coventry City FC. The Foundation will be a great asset to the West Lothian Community. ’ |
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Robert Snodgrass
‘When I was at Livingston FC I used to travel to training by Mini Bus along with Graham Dorrans, and James McPake. The great banter helped allow us to build a great team spirit, which still remains. I look back on my time at Livingston with great memories, and I feel my hard work was rewarded with a move to Leeds Utd FC, followed by the honour of playing the Scotland National Team. With more and more clubs recognising the importance of having a good youth system, I’m sure the Foundation will prove to be very successful. ’ |
Murray Davidson
‘My Livingston FC career got off to a slow start due to prolonged injuries but when I became fully fit, I managed to establish myself as a first team regular, which was a great experience. Then moving on to St Johnstone FC, competing in the Scottish Premier League. Also being selected for the Scotland Squad was a great honour. The Foundation will add to the successful Youth System at Livingston FC which is already in place.’ |
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Andrew Halliday
‘When you leave a big club like Rangers FC and sign for a family club like Livingston FC you realise the ‘togetherness’ feeling that a smaller club has, and Livingston was a club that I really seemed to fit into. Their youth system gave me a chance to resurrect my career, and after a successful 4 years at Livingston, I made a move to Middlesbrough FC. I knew players who were in the LFC Youth Teams and could see how quickly they were developing, which was a major factor in why I went to Livingston. I think that the Livingston Youth Foundation will enable many more young players to get the chance I got at Livingston FC.’ |
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