TRANENT Colts are celebrating after their para-football project was given the Disability Award for the Scottish Football Association’s South East Region and club chairman Phil Purves was named Volunteer of the Year.

The regional awards were handed to the club in recognition of its ongoing work. The SFA said: “The disability award reflects those who make a significant difference to grassroots disability football and this year’s award goes to Tranent Colts’ brilliant disability team programme.”

The club was nominated for the award by the parent of one team member who said his son was obsessed with football but found it very challenging to play with a regular team.

He said: “This club allows him the chance to train and participate in football in a professional, well-supported, friendly environment. Nobody is judged, they are just encouraged to be the best they can be.

Without this club my son would be extremely isolated.”

Mr Purves was awarded the regional Volunteer of the Year Award in youth football after the SFA said he was “continually trying to push the club forward for the benefit of all the community and the introduction of training sessions for footballers with disabilities underlies that”.

Mr Purves said: “Without all the good work from all the other guys and girls on the committee and coaches these things would not happen.”

The club is currently looking for volunteers and coaches to help with its new boys’ age groups (born 2011 and 2012) and recently launched girls’ section (born 2006 to 2012).

Training and games usually take place on Saturday mornings and experience is not essential as mentoring and education will be provided by the club’s coach co-ordination team.

Anyone who wants to get involved should contact club secretary Michael Dick on 07966 773179.