A FUN initiative which encourages kids to embrace sport has seen pupils from schools across East Renfrewshire enjoy more than 10,000 hours of football coaching and physical activity.

And the culmination of the bid to get youngsters fit and healthy was a festival of football, held at Cowan Park, in Barrhead.

Pupils from 13 primary schools – Our Lady of the Missions, St Mark’s, Carlibar, Uplawmoor, St Thomas’, St John’s, Busby, Crookfur, Neilston, Cross Arthurlie, Thornliebank, Mearns and Hillview – had a ball in the mass football kickabout.

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure (ERCL) teamed up with the Tesco Bank Football Challenge and the Scottish Football Association to deliver the programme of football coaching in schools.

A total of 1,284 youngsters in primary two classes throughout East Renfrewshire took part, with each of them receiving six hours of coaching and physical activity in their schools, as well as two hours at the football festival.

Anthony McReavy, chief executive of ERCL, said: “It’s heartening to see so many youngsters playing football, having physical exercise and, best of all, enjoying themselves.

“The work that goes into the programme by ERCL football coaches is certainly worthwhile and it’s a great way of introducing the pupils to sport and keeping active.”

Other primary schools in East Renfrewshire which took part in a second football festival at Muirend Playing Fields were Carolside, Netherlee, St Cadoc’s, Kirkhill, St Joseph’s, Braidbar, Giffnock, Eaglesham, Calderwood Lodge and St Clare’s.

For more infortmation, visit https://corporate.tescobank.com/31/in-the-community/football-challenge/