Rallying call for threatened Ross soccer team
A COMMUNITY football club in Easter Ross which tutors 150 local youngsters is in jeopardy of folding after 26 years unless volunteers step forward to help run it.
And this week Ross County FC also urged folk to rally to Invergordon Junior Football Club saying it was vital to foster young talent from the local area.
Now the club has called an urgent meeting in a bid to drum up support.
Edwin Skinner, club chairman, said it would be a disaster if the club was to close for the lack of three volunteers.
He explained: "We need the full support of all parents if we are to continue as a club that gives coaching and games to all children from P1 up to the fourth year.
"We urgently require a new club secretary, a treasurer and a child protection officer. Without a good response from parents we will have great difficult to carry on if the positions remain unfilled.
"These are essential posts. We are a charitable association and our accounts have to be prepared each year, and these days a child protection officer is also very important.
"We desperately want to keep the club going. It’s been running since 1986 and takes kids from South Lodge, Park, Newmore and Milton primary schools as well as Invergordon Academy.
"We provide coaching on four days a week and the youngsters compete in the Ross-shire League under-15s and under-17s. We take them to Blackpool every two years to compete and they have also competed in Belgium. We also supply kids to Ross County and Caley Thistle.
"We have six with County currently and three with Caley. Who knows, these kids could be the stars of the future. We owe it to the youngsters to keep the club going."
Ranald Gilbert, general manager at Ross County FC, said he was fully supportive of the Invergordon club’s efforts.
"I think we have a fantastic football community in Ross-shire which runs at all levels," said Ranald. "We are fortunate in the Highlands to have two teams, Ross County and Caley Thistle, in the SPL but you like to see benefits going right down to grassroots level because it’s not just about the big occasions.
"Clubs like Invergordon Junior give kids a safe and stimulating environment, while also teaching them real skills, whether it’s to progress their game or just learn how to work in a team.
"In any team it only takes one or two committed individuals to make something happen, or not to make something happen, so hopefully the community in Invergordon will see the value of Invergordon Junior Football Club and rally to the club’s call."
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Anyone who thinks they can help out is asked to attend the meeting – to be held in South Lodge Primary School, Invergordon, on Tuesday, November 27, at 7.30pm – or contact Edwin on 07789 077 538.
