GFR Juniors

THE GFR YOUTH SYSTEM

PLAYER PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

WELCOME TO GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS JUNIORS

FAQ’S

We hope that the following FAQ’s address the majority of questions and queries that players, parents and guardians may have about our football club. If you require any further clarification please contact Secretary Fred Blackie on 07814 974458 or email fred.blackie@gfrfc.co.uk

Who Are We?

We are a junior football club based in Galashiels providing football training and matches for Primary school aged boys and girls of all abilities. The club was formed as Galadean JFC in the summer of 2007. We have over 120 young players at the club making us one of the biggest children’s sporting clubs in the Borders.

An exciting new chapter in the history of junior football in Galashiels began in the Autumn of 2015 when Galadean JFC changed their name to formally become part of the town’s senior team, becoming Gala Fairydean Rovers Juniors. The newly named club now comes under the official umbrella of the senior club and will formally be part of the player pathway that will strengthen our ability to provide quality training and participation for all youngsters, whatever their level of ability. It will also provide a clear pathway for talented local youngsters to progress through the ranks of junior then youth football in the town and hopefully one day play for senior clubs or the Gala Fairydean Rovers first team.

Whilst the name has changed, everyone involved in the club is fully committed to ensuring we maintain the high standards we have set since the formation of the club in 2007 to provide an environment in which players of all ages can enjoy their football.

The club are members of the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA), the Scottish Borders Junior Football Association (SBJFA), The East of Scotland Soccer Development Association (ESSDA) and The Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council. The club has recently achieved Border Sport and Leisure Accreditation and the club are a Scottish Football Association (SFA) Quality Mark Development Club.

What is the SFA Quality Mark?

Galadean were the first Junior Football Club in the Scottish Borders to achieve the Quality Mark Development Club status. This award recognises that we strive to achieve best practice in all areas including;

- Screening of all Volunteers via the PVG Registration scheme.

- All Coaches to be in possession of at least an SFA Level 1 Coaching Qualification with all Head Coaches in each age-group gaining at least an SFA Level 2 Coaching Qualification.

- An elected committee including a Child Protection Officer, Secretary, Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and age-group representatives.

- A player pathway that fundamentally promotes the small-sided game, where young players will get plenty of touches of the ball, opportunities to score a goal, chances to make a successful pass, and find themselves in plenty of 1v1 situations.

What is the Club Structure?

The club are now officially part of the senior football club in Galashiels, Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Along with the Youth section, (Secondary School Aged Players) however, at the moment, Gala Fairydean Rovers Juniors organise and fund raise as an entirely separate entity.

At the next AGM which will be held in September 2017, a discussion and vote will take place about consolidating and combining the running of both the Youths and Junior clubs into a single entity.

The junior club has always been run entirely by volunteers.

Every year at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) a committee is elected to oversee the running of the club. Officials elected at this meeting include the Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Head Coach and Child Protection Officer. A General Committee is also elected with parent/guardian representation from each of the 7 age-groups at the club. The committee is responsible for all aspects of organising and running the club. A fund-raising sub-committee is also set up at the AGM to co-ordinate the vital work of raising funds.

The club are part of the Gala Fairydean Rovers player-pathway that can see players start with the club from when they join Primary 1 and can progress all the way through the junior and youth ranks to play for the club’s first team who currently play in the Scottish Lowland League. Whilst the club is committed to making young footballers the best they can be, our emphasis is on fun and participation allowing children of all abilities to play for the club.

Coming under the umbrella of the main club also means that the Junior section becomes a vital part of the main club’s award winning Community Engagement Programme which sets out not just to produce good young football players but to produce better citizens. The Community Programme aims tthrough sport, to offer children and young people from the local area the opportunity to live longer, healthier, fulfilled lives. The club wants to improve their life chances and give them a great start to help them achieve and succeed. Through cooperative working with community partner organisations the club wishes to encourage an atmosphere to help young people become confident individuals, successful learners and emerge as responsible adults.

Where are We Based?

The club is based at the 3G Arena, Netherdale, Netherdale Road, Galashiels, TD1 3HE

We train and play games on the FIFA 2 Star certified 3G, (third generation) artificial pitch, one of the best of its kind in the whole country.

When Do We Train and Play Matches?

The club plays matches on a Saturday morning throughout the course of the season. There are summer and winter breaks during the course of the season. The club participates in fixtures organised by the Scottish Borders Junior Football Association (SBJFA) playing home fixtures either on the 3G at Netherdale or on the grass pitches at the rear of the facility. Away fixtures are played at the home pitches of the other member SBJFA clubs.

The primary 1 and 2 age-groups to don’t participate in organised fixtures.
Until players are 8 years old they play in four-aside matches. (Fun 4’s)
Over 8’s player play in seven aside matches) (Soccer 7’s)

Training takes place at the 3G Arena for all age-groups, however during the winter months, (from the October school holiday’s unit after the Easter School holidays) the youngest age-groups, (P1 and P2) train indoors at the Queens Centre, 1 Melrose Road, Galashiels, TD1 2AD.

Training times for each age-group are as follows.

TRAINING TIMES FOR GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS JUNIORS FC

AGE GROUP | DAY(S) | TIME | VENUE | NOTE

P1 2019 Friday 16:00 – 17:00hrs 3G Arena

P2 2018 Friday 16:00 – 17:00hrs 3G Arena

P3 2017 Friday 15:00 – 16:00hrs 3G Arena

P4 2016 Friday 15:00 – 16:00hrs 3G Arena

P5 2015 Friday 15:00 – 16:00hrs 3G Arena

P6 2014 Tuesday 16:30 – 18:00hrs 3G Arena

2013 Tuesday 16:30 – 18:00hrs 3G Arena

2012 Tuesday 16:30 – 18:00hrs 3G Arena

What is the Cost?

The club has always tried to make playing football as affordable as possible.

The cost of training fees per annum is £100. Payment is by bank mandate.

A £10 cash payment is taken when each player completes a registration form for the new season and then the club asks parent/guardians to establish bank mandates for £10 per month for 9 months of the year for the remainder of the fees.

There is an additional, one off cash fee of £15 for all new players registering with the club. In return each new player receives a club training top and shorts.

Cash payments for fees are only taken when a parent/guardian pays the total annual sum of £100 in advance once their child completes the registration process.

All other training gear needs to be purchased by parents/guardians through our suppliers BE Uniforms; https://www.teamwear.border-embroideries.co.uk/clubs/gala-fairydean-rovers.html

The club asks that only Gala Fairydean Rovers Juniors training kit is worn.

Matchday strips are provided by the club and must be returned at the end of every match.

What Happens at Player Registration?

Every year the club holds a player registration day for new Primary 1 players after the school summer holidays.

Existing players simply re-register when their training sessions resume after the summer holidays.

All players and parent/guardians are asked to sign a code of conduct that commits them to behaving in a respectful manner to coaches, club officials, team-mates and opponents. It also asks players to respect the 3G facility.

The club then registers all players with our local football association, The SBJFA.

Early in the New Year, the club embarks upon a separate registration process with the games’ governing body in Scotland, the Scottish Youth Football Association, (The SYFA) based at Hampden Park , Glasgow.

Only players who are registered with both the SBJFA and the SYFA can play for the club.

What are the Footwear Requirements?

Moulded studs, metal studs & moulded blades are suitable
Flat soled trainers are strictly forbidden as are metal blades

Boot Bank

The club operates a boot bank where parents/guardians can access second hand football boots and training shoes for free. We ask that rather than throw out boots and trainers that are in a decent condition parents hand them into the club.

What about Training Session Drop Off/Pick Up?

Children should be dropped off no sooner than 15 minutes before the start of their training session and parents/guardians should be at the training venue at least 5 minutes before the end of the session to collect their child.

NB. Please note the children are not the responsibility of the coaches when the session has ended.

Health and Safety Notice

Coaches will notify parents if training sessions are cancelled due to adverse weather.

All children MUST wear shin guards and bring a bottle of water.

Children should wear Gala Fairydean Rovers Juniors Training Kit but be aware that at outdoor training appropriate clothing will be required i.e. a waterproof coat if it rains.