The Pars Youth Deveopment Initiative

Dunfermline Athletic have committed themselves to a massive investment in youth. It takes a great deal of time, effort and skill, but most of all money.

In 1999/2000 DAFC ran teams in the Scottish Youth Initiative at ages 13, 14, 15 and 16 with over 80 young players involved. Each team has two coaches and they train two nights a week at a multitude of venues including Oakley, Dalgety Bay, Rosyth, Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath.

DAFC now operate Development Centres for 11 and 12 year olds at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline and at Dalgety Bay. There is a Development Centre for under 11s at Glenrothes, one at West Pilton in Edinburgh for 11/12 year olds, and one for Under 14s in Rutherglen in Glasgow through Jack Parker and the Dunfermline Boys Club. They have also a Development Centre for Goalkeeping at Rosyth.

There are many costs associated with running such an ambitious scheme. Each Development Squad and Youth Initiative Team requires 20 balls, a set of bibs, markers, three sets of portable goals, four sets of Soccer Sevens goals, full playing kit and full training kit including rain jacket for every player and kit for the coaches.