300 young people from across Renfrewshire scored this week with a football festival at St Mirren Park.

The boys and girls aged 10-16 were competing in a special five-a-side tournament organised by the local Street Stuff initiative and the national Bank of Scotland Midnight League.

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Street Stuff is an award-winning programme diverting young people away from possible antisocial behaviour, which has lowered youth disorder rates across Renfrewshire.

300 young people from across Renfrewshire scored this week with a football festival at St Mirren Park.

The boys and girls aged 10-16 were competing in a special five-a-side tournament organised by the local Street Stuff initiative and the national Bank of Scotland Midnight League.

Street-Stuff-3

Street Stuff is an award-winning programme diverting young people away from possible antisocial behaviour, which has lowered youth disorder rates across Renfrewshire.

Bank of Scotland Midnight League is a national network of 5-a-side football supported by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The tournament also received funding from the CashBack for Communities initiative which takes money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act and invests it back into community activities.

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Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board, said: “This was the second year we’ve brought Street Stuff and the Midnight League together and it just gets bigger and better! Both projects have a lot in common, giving young people the activities they enjoy at times when, if nothing else was available, they might be tempted into antisocial behaviour. But they also bring young people together, encouraging them to make new friends and express themselves, on and off the pitch, and that’s inspiring to see.”

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St Mirren Chief Executive Brian Caldwell said: “The club is always keen to play a part in the local community and events like this are great for the youngsters.

“The standard of football on the evening was really good and who knows, we might have seen some St Mirren stars of the future?”

An SFA spokesperson said: “We were delighted to partner with Street Stuff again. Like Street Stuff, the Midnight League project offers a comprehensive range of opportunities boys and girls to participate in five-a-side football. The finals are a great highlight for Midnight Leagues as all the participants enjoy the opportunity to play in a competitive environment within a top –class stadium in Scotland.”

Street Stuff is a partnership between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren Football Club, Engage Renfrewshire, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue.

A full programme of Street Stuff activities is available online at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/streetstuff.

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