Forfar Athletic and Arbroath football clubs have teamed up in a pioneering pilot project encouraging kids to foster a fondness for reading through their love of sport.
In an initiative involving the SPFL Trust and Scottish Book Trust, the Loons and Lichties are working in partnership with 14 SPFL clubs and local libraries to deliver the 4-4-2 Reading Challenge which aims to inspire children aged 5-12 to read four books in exchange for match tickets.
Participating youngsters are given a challenge card and for every book read they receive a stamp on it.
When they have read four books, the youngsters receive a free match ticket for a home league match at Station Park or Gayfield, with an accompanying adult able to purchase a discounted ticket.
Despite only being a test project, more than 200 libraries across 11 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have signed up.
Those involved say the project could be extended to cover the whole country if the initiative is a winner.
Funding for the 4-4-2 Reading Challenge has been provided by the SPFL, backed by a visual campaign featuring the drawings of Edinburgh-based Danish illustrator Anders Frang.
SPFL Trust chief executive Nicky Reid said: “The 4-4-2 Reading Challenge initiative is designed to encourage children who don’t regularly visit the library or sport to do so. As such, we think it’s a real win-win opportunity for all concerned.
Forfar Athletic chairman Ken Stewart said: “We are pleased to be part of the SPFL with the 4-4-2 reading challenge and hope that it is warmly received by our young people.
“Forfar Athletic Football Club have been delighted by the support and enthusiasm that we have received from the AngusAlive libraries and Angus Council to help make this challenge a success”.
Arbroath FC director Anne McKeown added: “Arbroath Football Club are delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this excellent initiative.
“I can’t think of a better way to encourage a love of reading in our young people than through sport.
“We very much look forward to working with the various agencies involved with a view to making the challenge a success”.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster commented: “The 4-4-2 Reading Challenge is another excellent initiative from the SPFL Trust that the SPFL is delighted to support.
“Learning to read is a cornerstone of every child’s upbringing and hopefully the reward of getting to a football match will encourage many of them to take up the challenge.”
