A group of 17 administrators, made up of ten officials from different nurseries along with Youth FA Council members, have just returned from Scotland where they participated in an Erasmus+ project, supported by the European Union.

The project, entitled #The Goal – Investing In Our People, took place at host club at Kilmarnock FC. It was coordinated  by Stephanie Rocco, the Youth FA EU Funds Projects Coordinator, and Scottish Football Association training facilitator Brian Sproul.

The aim of the initiative was to give Maltese football officials a better insight in order to develop new ideas while running their nurseries in a more professional manner.

Project participants attended various lectures in different themes including child protection, ethics and positive coaching and Community Trust insight.

The Youth FA group also had the opportunity to witness at first hand the operation of the Kilmarnock FC academy along with visits to grassroots clubs in the region besides other placements within the various departments of the Kilmarnock FC operate.

The Maltese delegation was also hosted at Hampden Park where they had the opportunity to meet up with the Scottish Youth FA chief executive officer and other officials to discuss in detail the similarities and the future of the grassroots game.

During their stay in Scotland, the group also attended the Premiership match between Rangers and Motherwell at Ibrox Park, and also had the opportunity to meet up with Malta U-21 international Myles Beerman, currently on the books of Glaswegian giants Rangers.

In a statement, the Malta Youth FA said they were looking to continue spreading the positive aspects emerging from their members’ experience in Scotland.

In fact, those making the trip will now be requested to put forward ideas and proposals which they can implement within their nursery as a start and which implementation will be mentored and monitored accordingly.