Claremont football club net grant for lifesaving defibrillator at home ground

Claremont football club net grant for lifesaving defibrillator at home ground

A grassroots community football club in East Kilbride are delighted to have netted a lifesaving defibrillator installed at Ballerup pitches.

Claremont A.F.C. were recently successful in being awarded a grant for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.

Club Secretary David McKenna told Lanarkshire Live: "Having a defibrillator on-site at the Ballerup Pavillion will provide some reassurance and support for those that use the facilities and for the local community.

"There are no other public defibrillators located nearby, so the difference having this defibrillator would make is potentially a lifesaving difference.

"Most of our Claremont teams train there along with other EK clubs and at weekends play matches and host other events at the venue. We have been campaigning for a while to have a defibrillator on-site and South Lanarkshire Council were supportive of this and helped with the installation of the unit."

The club are also planning on delivering CPR training workshops for members. However anyone can learn some of the basics of CPR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure consisting of chest compressions often combined with artificial ventilation, or mouth to mouth in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.

Free online training is available where you can learn vital CPR skills and how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes on a mobile phone or tablet - visit https://revivr.bhf.org.uk/

Claremont is an SFA Platinum Quality Club - the first in East Kilbride - and is affiliated with EK Sports Council and Gold Accredited member of Club SL.

David added: "We are dedicated to introducing children to football at the earliest levels in a safe, positive environment with fully qualified SFA coaches.

"For those just starting out, we offer a Soccer School and a Girls Soccer Academy. Our teams range in age from four years old up to under-18s, as well as an adult amateur team. We also have our Colts team, a highly regarded and successful Pan-Disability squad.

"Claremont is a fantastic club to be involved with. If you're interested in joining any of our Soccer Schools, Academies, or teams, contact Harry at claremont.executiveteam@gmail.com "

Claremont 2011s team (pictured) recently celebrated an impressive season, securing victories in both the ERSDA Apertura League and the Division 1 Bowl, along with reaching the semi-finals of the Regional Cup.

Now, as they step up to Division A of CLYFA, Claremont is eager to build on this success and strengthen its squad with advanced-level players.