Gala Fairydean Rovers
The re-opening of the Waverley
Railway Line in 2015 means that extra
homes are being built in the area and
the business that will be attracted means
that the club are well placed to mount a
challenge for a league place in the years
ahead. However, central to the club’s
ethos is the belief that any progression
will have to be achieved sustainably.
The club’s strategy of sustainability
is boosted by three important
developments. The first is the healthier
bank balance thanks to a number
initiatives aimed at increasing revenue
such as a weekly lottery, a newly
launched patrons scheme and increased
commercial activities. The second is
a determination to ensure that Gala
Fairydean Rovers is seen as an integral
part of the fabric of the town through
a growing community engagement
programme that includes the Walking,
Disability and Ladies teams and the third
is the player-pathway created for junior
and youth footballers involved with the
club. A clear pathway from children
starting football in Primary 1 right the
way through to youth level and then into
the club’s Amateur and Lowland teams.
Between the club’s own youth
and junior section and another local
junior club, Tweedbank Thistle, over
300 youngsters are playing football at
Netherdale on a weekly basis. Very
few clubs outwith the professional
leagues have anything like that level of
participation. Gala Fairydean Rovers
recognise that to become sustainable
then it is necessary to produce local talent
rather than continually spending money
on bringing in players from Edinburgh
and beyond.
Local footballing legend, former
Celtic, Everton, Monaco and Scotland
star John Collins is also involved in the
new set up as Gala Fairydean Rovers
Ambassador of Football. At the time
John was developing as a young player
football in the Borders was very much
a minority sport. Any youngster who
wanted to improve had to travel to the
Central Belt for training and matches.
The club has worked hard to create
an infrastructure and opportunity for
young players to remain in Galashiels
whilst comping against some of the
best in the country. For the first time the
club has youth teams at each age-group
competing in the Edinburgh Leagues.
The local rugby fraternity has
managed to consistently produce some
of the best players in the country over
a century or more. It is now the hope of
the football community that the town of
Gala and the name of Netherdale will
become synonymous with the round ball
as well as the oval.
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