Your Game heads north to Glasgow

Eastwood savour their triumph

Your Game's long-awaited Scottish debut finally took place as the orange arch rose over Glasgow Green on Wednesday.

Another bumper turn-out followed with teams from as far afield as Aberdeen and Falkirk joining representatives from the host city's Old Firm.

Rangers took the honours in the men's competition after overcoming the Unpredictables on penalties in a nail-biting final.

Eastwood lifted the silverware in the women's tournament with a 3-1 win over Glasgow Girls, while Aberdeen Dynamic and Aspiring Young Women took the fairplay plaudits.

It's fun, its free and there are lots of good people here. I'd recommend it to anyone. Foday Keran

And with a new expanded round of 16 in the men's competition, even those who bowed out long before the final stages got a taste of knockout competition.

Charlie McFallan's Intercontinental side were eliminated in the last 16 on penalties.

"Its not too bad, it happens. We are here to have fun and its only a game of football after all," he said.

"There is more stuff here for people to go around rather than just watch the football. Other tournaments I have been to its just been the football and people have left early because it gets boring.

Oli Hayes hits the deck to show off his freestyling skills

"There is new stuff for people to try out here like the basketball and the boxing. I'd definitely come back, its been a great day."

Foday Keran's Glasgow Lions side, representing solidarity group Cameroonian Association and Sympathisers in Scotland, went one stage further.

After his side's quarter-final defeat, Foday admitted the number of teams who made it down surprised him.

"I was expecting only a few people, but I turned up and was quite happy with the turnout. I really enjoyed it and all my friends enjoyed it, I think it was a good experience to be here today," he said.

"Certainly I'd come back. It's fun its free and there are lots of good people here and we made lots of friends. I'd recommend it to anyone."

Aaron Dalgoutte turned out for the Quarriers, a hostel for young people.

"Yeah, we won a few, lost a few but there are a lot more things to do here. A lot more opportunities to try new things," he said.

The lunchtime entertainment gets the thumbs-up

"I've been homeless for a year, year and a half. I want to get out as soon as I can and make a start for myself. I'm planning to join the army at the end of the year."

For other young people less sure of what they wanted for the future the Scottish Football Association, Sport Scotland, Youth Scotland, Young Scot and the Sandyford clinic were on hand to offer local funding and advice.

Donald Gillies welcomed the chance to spread the word about the Cashback for Communities which puts proceeds recovered from criminals back into community projects.

"The programme gives free coaching and education to 16-25 year-olds. We are here trying to promote that free education so some of these guys can go back to their communities and provide some quality coaching at their clubs," he said.

Last year from Your Game we had around ten or twelve people who got funding Abby Kegg

"It sounds a bit cliched but football is for everybody and it shouldn't be about just what we do, or what the BBC do.

"If you have a great initiative that you think would benefit from us being there then we would be happy to be part of it.

"Your Game has brought together so many diverse people across a broad age range and its easy to see the impact its had. I think getting along to one of these events, if they come to you area, is something you shouldn't miss."

Eastwood drive forward in the women's final

Jo Surcouf, Girls on the Move development officer for Youth Scotland, was also getting proactive to promote her programme which aims to get more girls and young women accessing physical activity more often.

"I've managed to make connections with quite a lot of different organisations who are now finding out how they can get funding from Girls on the Move and send of their young people through our leadership programme," she said.

"Sports not just about team sports and competitive sports, but also things like dance, cheerleading and other activities as well as the more traditional sports."

Abby Kegg from UnLtd was another looking to give money to the right projects, drumming up entries for her organisation's Big Challenge.

The punchbag takes another pounding

"There is up to £10,000 for the young people. Big Challenge is a competition for 16-25 year-olds, if they have an idea for something they want to do for their community they can submit it onto the website.," she explained.

"Basically anything goes as long as it helps bring people together.

"Last year from Your Game we had around ten or twelve people who got funding to start up projects and we are hoping this year it is going to be a few more.

"I'm not a massive football fan but I've had loads of fun here today. So I'd tell anyone to come on down."

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Men's Winners: Rangers

Men's Runners Up: The Unpredictables

Men's Fairplay: Aberdeen Dynamic

Women's Winners: Eastwood

Women's Runners Up: Glasgow Girls

Women's Fairplay: Aspiring Young Women