celtic spread the word in north america

Paul Cuddihy
CELTIC in the Community has taken the message of training and playing the Celtic way across the Atlantic and it’s already proved to be a massive hit.

A summer programme of activity has been launched in 15 cities throughout the United States and Canada.

And in partnership with Global Events Group (GEG), Celtic in the Community are bringing their hugely successful programme to children in inner cities all over North America.

This programme has three distinct but complementary elements.

1. A programme of fun-based soccer coaching aiming at disadvantaged youths throughout North America – free of charge to all those involved.

2. The development of long-lasting relationships with youth soccer clubs to deliver tailored Celtic-standard programmes in 2008 and beyond.

3. Celtic’s Youth Academy teams aim to tour the host cities on a yearly basis from 2008 onwards.

The long-term vision for this programme is to develop Celtic-branded IT and soccer-based programmes in these locations 365 days/year.

Celtic aim to have 30 ‘Community Soccer Academies’ across the northern states of America, and into Canada within the next five years.

Ultimately, the club hopes to be working with 30,000 young people at one time.

Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell said: “We are delighted to be expanding our highly successful community programme to the United States.

“Celtic’s name and reputation globally is stronger than ever and it is a natural progression for us to take our great community work to an area such as the US and Canada, where the Club is now so popular.

“Like the programmes at home, what we are doing in America, is about getting kids in all areas involved in sport, healthy living and education at no charge.

“This is seen as a long-term programme, and will ultimately see Celtic-coaching programmes delivered all year round in communities throughout North America and Canada.

“We are excited to be involved in this programme, and to see the difference it is already making in the lives of those who have participated.

“The programme has also been very successful in promoting Scottish football in general and Scotland, to an American audience.

“We are very proud of Celtic’s strong social dimension and will continue to do all we can at home and abroad to ensure that we can positively influence the lives of more and more young people.”

Soccer is the largest participation sport in the United States, with over 18 million registered players.

Celtic’s approach is to utilise the sport, and the brand name of the club, to work in ‘inner-city’ areas to give children an opportunity to participate in a sport which is currently not available to them.

The 15 cities involved are: New York, Boston, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids (Michigan), Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria (Canada), Chilliwack (Canada), Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Dublin (Ohio) and Cleveland.

Celtic in the Community will also offer volunteer coach education aimed at those working at a recreational level.

And the programme is enhanced by a mobile IT Learning Pod which will accompany Celtic in the Community coaches and delivers a sustainable syllabus of motivational learning. This Pod is provided by the iT Pod Company.

An iT Pod is a mobile unit or fixed classroom packed with 21st century technology which will travel to the areas where coaching is taking place to ensure that there is a strong educational element to everything which the Club does.

Celtic’s long-term aim is to have 30 ‘Community Soccer Academies’ and some of these ‘academies’ will be in the form of Salvation Army-run ‘Kroc Centers’ when they open in 2-3 years’ time.

Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald’s Restaurants founder, Ray Kroc, bequeathed $1.7billion to the Salvation Army solely for the purpose of establishing ‘Kroc Community Centers’ across the United States.

According to the trust, a Kroc Center is to be highly visible and easily accessible; to be within reach of various economic groups, with particular outreach to lower-income families; to have high-quality service with high-quality facilities and to include programmes involving education, sport, fitness, arts and worship.

Celtic in the Community Development Manager Graeme Mathie explained: “Although there are such a large number of registered players in the country, there are many more children who do not have access to participate in the game.

“Most youth soccer clubs have registration fees out with financial capabilities of most families in inner-city areas. Through the partnerships we have developed, we are able to give something back to these kids, all free.

“The three strands of the programme we have in place allows us to replicate the three strands of our community programme in this country.

“We currently deliver a variety of fun, football-based, educational programmes for all ages and abilities through schools – free of charge to those who attend, as well as delivering a whole host of programmes including participation centres, residential camps, and holiday courses that are tailored to those who want to develop their skills.

“Our new Community Academy programme also allows us to provide a pathway to the Celtic Youth Academy for those who show elite potential.

“In the same way, the programme in North America aims to assist in the development of the grass-roots game in the country, by delivering year-round programmes based in the heart of the community, in addition to developing links with community-outreach organisations, youth soccer clubs, and university programmes.”

Graeme added: “During the first three weeks of the programme we delivered courses in New York, Boston and Indianapolis.

“We worked with the Salvation Army, the largest charity in the whole of the United States and through the coaching clinic and school assemblies, delivered courses to nearly 300 children throughout each week.

“Boston hosted us last week, and there were around 450 children, and 30 adults involved in the programme.

“In total, we have already worked with around 1,200 kids and the feedback has been tremendous.

“The iT Pod is an excellent addition to the programme, and allows us to share the fantastic ethos and history of Celtic, and also allows us to educate children on important life skills like team-work, respect and the benefits of a positive, healthy lifestyle.”