The ‘Choose Life Community Leagues’ were set up to meet demand from attendees and aid sustainability. The leagues allow MTGP to provide continued advice, support and 1-1 mentoring whilst also assisting the breaking down of sectarian and territoriality issues.
The leagues allow attendees, parents and community led groups to be actively involved with MTGP long after it leaves their area and highlights that MTGP ‘is much more than just a one-off football initiative’.
Operating since 2010, following demand by attendees who were finding it difficult to join existing football clubs due to territoriality issues, targeted communities are encouraged to form area teams to participate in 7 a-side matches against other gang areas with results deciding league positions.
Play-offs determine final league positions with trophies and medals presented to attendees. 3 age related leagues now operate at U/16, O/16 and O/21 levels to meet demand with many attendees and teams participating for numerous years.
South Lanarkshire Choose Life provide funding to allow attendees and supporters to participate at no cost.
Up to 6 teams (80 attendees) attend nightly with many individuals and teams having attended since the league commenced in 2010. Despite a high possibility for disorder, the leagues operate without incident, mainly due to the respect between players and coaches.
The following are samples of the testimonies received from the young people who regularly attend the Community Leagues:-
I love when Moving the Goalposts is on. I go up and meet everybody, its fun and the feel good factor is brilliant. I stay for the whole night and even help the coaches put the park away. I volunteer to accompany the boys to take part in the Choose Life Community League and wouldn’t miss it.
Its one of the highlights of my week as it brings everybody together. We still have our problems but for 3 nights a week they disappear and you can feel good about yourself. Moving The Goalposts means so much to this community.
They have helped a lot of people feel better about themselves and I for one am grateful that they are here. With the youth club now up and running it will change all of our lives for the better giving our community something to build on for the future. Laura (21)
I enjoy when the football is here, it stops us hanging around the streets coz when we are bored we get into trouble. I also go to community league on a Tuesday night. I didn’t get any exercise before but now I am playing football two nights a week and feel much better for it. Ryan (16)
This is good as it keeps me busy and off the streets and out of trouble. Tuesday night’s league is brilliant. Stuart (17)
Moving the Goalposts is good as it gives us something to do and keeps us off the streets. It also lets us meet new people and do different things. The people who run the football are great, you can have a good laugh with them. The football at the community league is good we get to talk to other people from areas just like ours. Graham (18)
Moving The Goalposts 