Falkirk Steins FC

Falkirk Football Club and Steins Thistle Club have formally come together to establish a joint venture partnership in support of youth football development in the Falkirk area.

The two parties held a presentation on Wednesday 27th January at the Falkirk Stadium to announce this exciting new venture and promote its establishment. Club officials from each organisation attended along with representatives from Falkirk Council, the Scottish Football Association and members of local and regional government.

The venture will see Falkirk Football Club’s established youth development arm, Falkirk in the Community, join forces with Steins Thistle’s youth and adult structure, creating a sizeable new organisation to be know as Falkirk Steins FC. The governing body will oversee football development in the community from the age of 6 years old through all youth age groups and on to adults, creating a player pathway all the way from children’s football through to grown ups, both male and female.

Bringing the parties together creates an organisation with a membership of almost 600, coaching staff of almost 100 in number, and overall participation in excess of 2,000 in the local community. The combined effect produces the largest community club in the Falkirk and surrounding area, and it is hoped to achieve the SFA Quality Mark Community Award within a short period of time.

Alan Morgan, SFA Football Development Manager has assisted in the merger and supported the proposal from day one. “A lot of effort has been put in by both clubs to pull this together and I was happy to see it finally launched. The pathway now in place will ensure there are opportunities for everyone to get involved and will also help in years to come in regard to the retention of players and volunteers within the structure.”

George Craig, Managing Director of Falkirk Football Club spoke at the presentation and welcomed the new venture with open arms. He provided Falkirk FC’s full backing and praised the merger as a real Good News story all round. “Falkirk Football Club is excited and delighted to be involved in this partnership. Steins Thistle is a long established community football club that has served the children and young people of the Bonnybridge and surrounding area for many years. Our own Community dept has over the past few years grown into the most successful, diverse and inclusive program operated by a senior professional club. The partnership provides a pathway for young players to continue their interest in the sport of football into adult life and derive the benefits of continuing healthy activity.

The club is pleased to work with the committed and hard working management, coaches and volunteers at Steins Thistle and also appreciate the support received from the SFA development team and Falkirk Council.”

Graham Wright speaking on behalf of Steins Thistle said – “We are delighted to be creating a partnership link with Falkirk Football Club. This is an excellent opportunity for the Club’s to work together combining their experience and resources, and creating a player pathway from children’s football all the way through to adults. The new organisation creates a very substantial platform from which to grow and expand, supporting the development of football activity and coaching in the Falkirk and surrounding areas. To be part of the new structure is a major step forward for our Club and we hope that the local authorities and funding bodies can share in our vision for the future”

9th February 2010