Clydesdale Bank Community Award winner for September

Neil Mackie of Turriff, Aberdeenshire, has been announced as winner of the Clydesdale Bank Community Award for September.

Neil has been a volunteer football coach for the past 7 years atTurriff Youth Football Club (formerly Turriff Boys Club), and wasnominated for the award by Raymond Bruce, whose son plays in the team.

Neil has devoted a considerable amount of his spare time in theevenings and at weekends as a local football coach to train and developa squad of primary school kids since they were in P1 right through toP7. Approximately 20 children have consistently attended training on aMonday night, where the level of interest in football and teamwork hasbeen maintained and encouraged by Neil and his fellow coachingassistants. As well as the weekly coaching, Neil organises the variousgames in the winter and summer leagues, and trips to any summertournaments.

Neil is popular with the kids and this is underlined by the factthat the core group of kids have not drifted away from the footballtraining to do other activities. Neil has great patience with the ladsand is good at motivating the team, especially when the boys are losingin league or cup games.

Importantly Neil has a great sense of humour and the level of funand enjoyment that the boys get at football training means that theyare still excited and can't wait for Monday nights!

The winners of the Clydesdale Bank Community Award are presentedwith their award by someone from their team of choice, and Celtic fanNeil chose to come down from Turriff to a Celtic home game and receivehis award pre-match. Celtic's John Kennedy was on hand to do thehonours, and Neil and his son got the chance to have their photo takenwith some other Celtic players too, before watching the team win 3-0!

Neil said: "I am chuffed to bits with this award, but I'm not theonly one who helps out with the team. I used to play amateur footballfor a local team when I was younger, but broke my leg which stopped mycareer short! It's great to be able to pass on skills to the kids andsee them enjoying a healthy hobby. The team are currently 2nd in theirleague, which is really pleasing."

As part of the prize Clydesdale Bank will also £100 toTurriff Youth Club where Neil does his coaching. Congratulations toNeil on being a worthy winner of the Clydesdale Bank Community Award.Do you know someone like Neil who makes a real contribution to theircommunity?

If you do then we want to know . If you are a registered member and logged in, check out the nomination form below.