Airdrieonians FC’s first Diamond Life primary schools coaching programme reached Graduation Day on Monday as 200 local kids descended on the Excelsior Stadium for a fun Football Festival.

​

Run in conjunction with North Lanarkshire Leisure’s Active Schools programme and backed by the Scottish Football Partnership, Diamond Life has proved to be a massive success in putting our Club back at the heart of the community.

​

Over the last six weeks first team stars Hugo Faria and Jacob Esposito, Under-20s winger Murray Loudon and community coach Rob Taylor have visited 20 local primary schools giving weekly training sessions.

​

The Festival to culminate the programme was co-ordinated by Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black and we knew that he wanted Monday’s celebration of football to go ahead.

​

Our players and staff were there to referee the games and encourage the children on a day full of smiles and North Lanarkshire Leisure Active Schools co-ordinator Emma Lafferty said: “It has been a terrific day and it sets the seal on a programme that has brought so much enjoyment to the children.

​

“We’d like to thank Airdrieonians FC and the players for all their help and enthusiasm, they have really thrown themselves into it.” 

​

Diamond Life is an integral part of our plans to restore this football club at the heart of the community it serves.

​

And Chief Executive Iain King said: “The backing of the Scottish Football Partnership and the support of North Lanarkshire Lanarkshire were pivotal in getting Diamond Life off the ground.

​

“Led by Eddie and brilliantly delivered by the coaches it has been a huge success and we are already laying plans for the next one.”