GLASGOW FOOTBALL ACADEMY
26 Mar 2010

Formerly known as AFCM Soccer School
Glasgow Football Academy has continued training children from deprived areas Football basics that include Shooting, passing, dribbling, teamwork and skills!

Glasgow Football Academy want all young people to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and have a long history of providing services that enable young people to grow and develop in every aspect of their lives.

Glasgow Football Academy work to ensure that every young person feels they have a place to belong, where their voice is heard and where they are valued and respected as individuals.

Glasgow Football Academy believe that encouraging young people to shape and lead activities and projects helps to give them a sense of direction and purpose and promotes active citizenship

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL EVENT 2008 (Rangers FC v Queen of the South)
Scottish Cup Final 2008 (24th May 2008) provided a U11s team for a photo shoot with Rangers Legend Mark Hateley with the Scottish Cup at Hampden

The photos were published in THE SUN newspaper, The children had the opportunity to chat with Mark Hateley, Shahz introduced all the children’s to Mark, including Adam (age 9) he mentioned that Adam plays like Mark's old strike partner Ally McCoist Mark replied does Adam also score Goals with his Bum, everone started laughing at his remark.

A few Days later the Children experienced something that not many children will experience in their life time, They played Football at Hampden in front 44,000 fans, The children and coaches were seated in the players family section were they met many of the Rangers legends including Richard Gough. Rangers beat Queen of the South 3-2 in the 2008 final.

GLASGOW JUNIORS SC 2007
Shahz (Assistant Manager) Coached an U11s team with Alwyn Fry (Manager) as volunteer in the then SYFA league. The U11s team competed against established youth teams and did very well to hold their own.
Shahz Provided the Children with membership cards and fact sheets on a weekly basis, shahz also provided the club with their first website where the children could chat and play games.

May 2008 SFA asked shahz to help in them with Scottish Cup Final Half Time Event.

BRITISH DEAF ASSOCIATION - KELVIN HALL EVENT 2008
Shahz got Celtic FC, SFA, Hillpark Taekwondo, MHFS10K, and others involved in the event, he worked tireless to promote the event for the BDA.

GLASGOW FC 2008
Shahz Spent over 15 months at the club as a Volunteer using his own money to help fund Kits, Training equipment and more. Shahz was in charge of the U19s pre season games out of the 10 games Shahz was in charge he won 9 games and got one draw against Finnart, which was the first game he took charge of at half time 3 goals down. Shahz was then moved to the U21s where again he had to build a squad for the league.
In March 2009 shahz left Glasgow FC and formed AFCM a non-profit football club setup to help young adults get FREE training and Games

NETWORKING 2009
Glasgow Football Academy have a strong belief in Networking and have been promoting the following clubs, organisations and company’s GF SPORTS WEAR, ARMADILLO, Tunnocks, Coerver® Coaching, The Pitches, MHFS 10k for Men, Show Racism the Red Card, Hillpark Taekwon-Do, Kick It Out, Sanjhi Awaz Radio, MOSAIC, Kick for Children with Cancer, arorasports.co.uk, Clyde FC Southside and others

CENTRAL REGISTERED BODY IN SCOTLAND 2010
Glasgow Football Academy are registered members of CRBS

SOUTH EAST SPORTS FORUM 2010
Glasgow Football Academy are members the South East Sports Forum

Scottish Youth Football Association 2010
Glasgow Football Academy are a SYFA registered Soccer school

VALENCIA CF 2010
Glasgow Football Academy were asked to help promote the Valencia Club de Futbol The Next Generation Summer Soccer Camp, The summer camp was promoted through forums, community sites on facebook, bebo, twitter and you tube, Valencia were also given space on the Glasgow Football Academy news page and other pages

GLASGOW FOOTBALL ACADEMY 2009 – PRESENT

GANGS: MYTHS AND FACTS
01 Apr 2010

Common Myths and Facts About Gangs

Myth #;1
Respect in gangs really means fear. If you join a gang, you will constantly have to commit crimes in order to keep other gang members afraid of you. This kind of respect will disappear the first time you fail to hurt someone who insults you or puts you down. It’s not real and it doesn’t last.

Myth #;2
While you may believe that joining a gang will protect you from bullies or other gang members, being in a gang greatly increases your chances of being a target for rival gang members. You are far more likely to be injured or killed if you are in a gang. Even if you get out of the gang, your rivals will remember you and may still try to hurt or kill you.

Myth #;3
Most gang members make very little money being part of a gang. Those who do make money usually end up doing time. Getting your education is the key to making money and ensuring a future — not joining a gang.

Myth #;4
In a gang, you’ll also make a lot of enemies. Your friends who haven’t joined the gang may stop wanting to be around you. Your gang may not approve if you have friends or date outside the gang. They will question and test your loyalty.

Myth #;5
Real families don’t force people to commit crimes just to get respect and love. Real families accept you and love you for who and what you are. Even if your real family is having problems, being in a gang will not solve them — it will only make things worse.

Myth #;6
Gang members decide to leave the gang lifestyle every day. In some cases, getting out isn’t easy and may require you to leave your home, school or community in order to be safe. The best option, however, is to stay out of gangs in the first place.

My gang will protect me, and I will feel safe.

Wrong! While you may believe that joining a gang will protect you from bullies or other gang members, being in a gang greatly increases your chances to be a target for rival gang members. You are far more likely to be injured or killed if you are in a gang. Many former gang members report that they had to change their lives dramatically as a gang member. They could no longer wear clothing they used to wear. They got into fights while attending school with rival gang members, and ended up dropping out of school. They felt unsafe going out of their neighborhoods, and they couldn't ever be sure where they might be confronted by rivals. Even if they got out of gangs, their rivals didn't forget them. They still had many enemies who might hurt or kill them.

Other people will respect me more if I am in a gang.

Wrong! Respect in many gangs really means fear. If you join a gang, you will constantly have to commit crimes in order to keep other gang members afraid of you. At any age, respect is something you can earn by getting an education and accomplishing goals in your life. Respect in the gang culture will go away the first time you fail to hurt someone who insults you or puts you down. That kind of respect isn't real, and it doesn't last.

Joining a gang means I'll have lots of friends.

You will have friends, but you'll also make lots of enemies--the members of rival gangs. Also, your friends who haven't joined the gang may stop wanting to be around you. Your gang may not approve if you have friends or date people outside the gang. They may question and test your loyalty, and insist that you hang out only with them.

My gang will be just like a family.

Wrong! Real families don't force people to commit crimes to get respect and love. Real families accept you and love you for who and what you are. Even if your family is having problems, being in a gang will not solve them--it will only make things worse. If you join a gang, your family members may become targets for rival gangs. Joining a gang will only increase the number of fights you have with your parents. You will eventually get into trouble with the law, and your parents and family members will be hurt and disappointed. You will set a bad example for your brothers and sisters. You will not find the kind of love you're looking for from a gang.

I'll make lots of money if I'm in a gang.

Most gang members make very little money being part of a gang. Those who do, usually end up doing time. Plus, if you're in a gang, it's far more likely that you'll drop out of school because of problems with rival gang members. Getting your education is the key to making money--not joining a gang.

I can never get out of my gang.

Wrong! Gang members decide to leave the gang lifestyle every day in cities around the U.S. It is a myth that the only way to leave a gang is by dying. Most gang members who leave are able to live normal lives, going to school and working just like everyone else. However, in some cases, getting out of a gang isn't easy, and you may have to leave your home, school or community in order to be safe. It IS easier to get into a gang than to get out of one, but you can choose to leave the gang life today. There are many more examples of people who have successfully walked away from gangs. The best option of all, however, is to stay out of gangs in the first place.

Who Joins a Gang, Membership Levels and Signs to watch for
Who joins gangs?

Gangs are not restricted to one ethnic or socioeconomic group. They cross neighborhood boundaries, and exist in all areas of the state. Both boys and girls get involved in gangs. Potential gang recruits may suffer from a poor self-image or low self-esteem, and may feel isolated from their peers. While some kids may be actively recruited, some join the gang by default--they are never discouraged from getting involved in the lifestyle. Many gang members have infrequent contact with positive adults; the gang begins to replace their families.

Why do kids join gangs?

Kids join gangs for many reasons, and the circumstances differ with each individual member. Common reasons for a child to join a gang include:

Low self-esteem

Family Issues

Peer Pressure

Respect/Recognition

Excitement

Protection / Fear

Family Involvement

No Discouragement to Join

Fast Money

Shock Value

A chance to feel important and be somebody

Forced into the gang because of environment

Shock their parents

There is no one thing that will push a child to join a gang, and s/he will not become a hard-core gang member overnight. Many times, a child joins a gang because s/he has a great need to feel important, and welcome in a group. If that need is not met in a positive fashion, the child will go looking for reinforcement from any group.

What are the levels of membership?

It takes a while for a child to be accepted by a gang. They must prove their loyalty to the group through certain actions.

Fantasy/At-risk Member (30%)

This is a child who is fascinated and obsessed with the gang lifestyle. S/he is aware of media images of gangs, and may imitate the behavior s/he sees on the movie screen, or hears in the music s/he listens to. The gang attracts his/her attention, but is not a major part of his/her life.

Associate Member (40%)

This is a child who has gained knowledge about a particular gang, and is attempting to prove him/herself to that gang. He/she will wear the gang's colors, hang out with members on a regular basis, and may begin to draw the gang's graffiti on his/her school notebooks. The child will begin to have difficulties at home and in school, and will be hanging out regularly with gang members. At this stage, the child is willing to do anything to get into the gang, and therefore may be very dangerous.

Member/Hardcore Member (30%)

When a kid has proven his/her loyalty to the gang, s/he is initiated into the gang, often by being "jumped in". This usually consists of being beaten by the other members for a certain period of time. The hardcore member may readily admit, and be proud of his/her membership. S/he may tattoo the gang name or symbol on his/her body, and will most likely have committed some sort of gang crime. S/he may also have spent time in jail. When kids get to this stage, they are usually not involved with school, and have little to no contact with their real family. Hardcore members call the shots in the gang - they are "in charge."