GALA Fairydean Rovers are attempting to become the first football club in the region to be awarded the prestigious SFA Quality Mark Legacy Award and have embarked on an ambitious series of projects aimed at placing them at the centre of the community of Galashiels.

And they have enrolled former Newcastle and Hearts player Lee Makel to head the plans.

The Gala Fairydean Rovers Community Engagement Programme will be launched in late July and will see the club announce partnerships with local charities, youth and community organisations.

The SFA South East Region have recognised the growing community aspect of what is happening at Netherdale by signing the club up to two important initiatives that will help in achieving the Legacy Award.

Tony Begg, Scottish FA club development manager, said: “Gala Fairyden Rovers FC submitted a strong application, where it was very clear how engaged the clubs coaches and volunteers are with the clubs philosophy and future growth plans.

“I am delighted to advise they have been successful in their application to be the first club in the Scottish Borders to benefit from this exciting programme.

“The programme is open to all Scottish FA Quality Mark accredited clubs to apply, with club applications being assessed on areas such as the clubs current levels of coach education, their engagement with Scottish FA continuous development events, the clubs philosophy and future plans.” The first of the planned schemes will see junior and youth coaches at the club receive professional mentoring to help improve the quality of coaching delivered to young players.

The Scottish FA, in partnership with McDonald’s and Borders Sport and Leisure Trust have created a new Club Coach Officer programme, with the aim of working with local football clubs in order to support the development of grassroots club coaches.

Mr Makel wil take up the role next month.

The Netherdale club have over 300 junior and youths as part of their player pathway making them one of the biggest youth sporting organisations in the region.

Mr Begg added: “Lee Makel has been appointed as the Club Coach Officer for the Scottish Borders.

“Lee has most recently been working at the cutting edge of coaching with SPFL club Cowdenbeath.

“Lee also works in the Earlston High Football Academy and Borders advanced player centres and is therefore able to directly relate to experiences at both the professional and grassroots pathways of the game.

“Lee also enjoyed a notable playing career with clubs including Newcastle Utd, Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield, Hearts, Livingston and Östersunds FK in Sweden, where he was a player coach.” Gala Fairydean Rovers are also involved in the Captains for Change Programme - an innovative project launched by UEFA to strive for a more inclusive environment, fostering and further developing diversity within the management of football in Europe.

Former French international player Christian Karembeu is the ambassador for the new programme, and the UEFA global ambassador of diversity and change, Clarence Seedorf, also supports the initiative.

Jennifer Malone, the SFA’s football equity officer for the South East region explained why Gala had been chosen for the programme.

She told us: “Through this project the Scottish FA is committed to supporting clubs in providing 'a game for all’.

“A Game for All will provide the tools for clubs to continue their good work in engaging their local community with the ambition of becoming truly representative of the community they belong to.

“For the initial pilot of the project the Scottish FA are looking to work with strong Quality Mark clubs who are committed to engaging their local community.

“Working with the regional Football Equity Officer clubs will explore how they currently engage with their local community and understand what they can do to promote the brand of the club to parts of the community that perhaps currently do not understand the opportunities the club provides.

“Gala Fairydean Rovers, through their Community Engagement Plan, have already highlighted their commitment to engaging the wider community, in particular the growing Polish community within Galashiels.

“This commitment from the club made them an obvious choice when looking at what clubs to work with on this new exciting project. The attendance, discussions and actions developed at the recent Cultural Awareness Workshop gives me great confidence that the club will enhance its inclusive environment through a better understanding of the potential barriers and an increase in those accessing the club from ethnically diverse backgrounds.”