Lochend Football Academy
Trustees’ Annual Report
( for year ended 31 August 2025 )
1. Organisational Overview
Lochend Football Academy operates as a registered Scottish Charity (SC051226) under a modern Constitution and is governed by a structured Management Committee / Board of Trustees. In recent years, the Club has undergone a significant governance refresh, strengthening oversight, financial controls and accountability standards. This represents a clear evolution in how the Academy is managed and positioned for long-term sustainability.
The current Trustee group includes a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer, supported by committee members with defined operational responsibilities. The Club operates with transparent financial systems, ring-fenced accounting where required, safeguarding policies aligned with Scottish FA standards, and formal reporting oversight.
The current Management Committee structure identifies the following trustees: Ian Fergus, James Urquhart, Martyn Dickson, Simon Shepherd, Sean Urquhart, Iain Budge and Paul Byrne. The office-bearing roles include Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer and Coach Co-ordinator.
2. Governance & Management
The Academy is governed by a volunteer Management Committee / Board of Trustees including a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer and additional trustees with operational responsibilities. The Club operates with appropriate financial controls, safeguarding policies aligned to Scottish FA requirements, and structured oversight of restricted and unrestricted funding. The current Trustees are listed below :
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Ian M Fergus | Chairperson & Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer Coach Co-Ordinator (Head of Coaching) |
| James Urquhart | Treasurer and Deputy Head of Coaching |
| Martyn D Dickson | Secretary |
| Simon Shepherd | Trustee |
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| Sean Urquhart | Trustee |
|---|---|
| Iain Budge | Trustee |
| Paul Byrne | Trustee |
3. Charitable Purposes and Activities
Lochend FA provides structured grassroots football and physical activity opportunities for children and young people in East Edinburgh, serving a community facing socio-economic challenges. Our focus is on improving physical wellbeing, confidence, resilience and teamwork.
During the year, the charity continued to deliver grassroots football activities, including training sessions, team coaching, competitive matches, player development and opportunities for young people to take part in organised sport. The Club’s programmes support children and young people from around age 5 through to young adults, across different football formats. The Club’s coaching is delivered by experienced coaches and is intended to develop technical skills, fitness, confidence, teamwork and enjoyment of football in a safe and inclusive environment.
In 2024, the Academy was honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the UK’s highest award for volunteer-led organisations – recognising our sustained community impact and governance standards.
4. Achievements and Public Benefit
During the year, Lochend Football Academy continued to provide accessible grassroots football opportunities for children and young people in the Lochend community and wider Edinburgh area. The Club’s activities supported participation in sport, physical fitness, confidence, teamwork, resilience and community pride. The Club operates in a community described in its partnership materials as being within the top 5% most deprived communities in Scotland, and its activities are aimed at ensuring that children can access quality coaching regardless of background or income.
The Club achieved a number of notable sporting and community successes during the period and around the 2025 season, including:
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Recognition through The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
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Competitive success across age groups, including the U13s winning the South East Region Cup.
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Cup finalist appearances across all age groups from U13 to U16, demonstrating strong participation and performance across the youth pathway.
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Three teams reaching Scottish Cup quarter-finals, with the U15s reaching the Scottish Cup semi-final.
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Six players selected for the SYFA National Squad at U15 and U16 level, showing the strength of the Club’s player development pathway.
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U13 and U14 teams winning the Division 4 and Division 3 League Cup Finals.
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The U15s travelling to Italy to compete in a major international youth tournament, providing players with a valuable sporting and personal development experience.
The trustees consider that these achievements demonstrate the public benefit delivered by the charity through increased access to sport and physical activity, structured youth development, improved health and wellbeing, opportunities for children and young people to progress in
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football, and the strengthening of community participation through volunteering, coaching and outreach.
5. Financial Review
For the year ended 31 August 2025, the accounts show total income/turnover of £90,791.93. The main sources of income included team fee income, grant income, lets, fundraising, sales and signage income. Direct wages were £45,786.75, and administrative costs totalled £41,728.39, resulting in a surplus/profit after taxation of £3,276.79 for the year.
At 31 August 2025, the charity had fixed assets of £40,646.67, cash at bank and in hand of £27,498.17, accounts receivable of £300.00, and creditors falling due within one year of £2,186.55. Net assets at the year end were £66,258.29.
The trustees consider the charity to be in a stable financial position at the year end. The surplus will be retained and applied toward the charity’s ongoing football, coaching, facilities, safeguarding and community activities.
The trustees aim to maintain sufficient reserves to allow the Club to meet its ongoing operating commitments, including coaching, facility, equipment, registration, insurance and safeguarding-related costs, while continuing to invest in facilities and activities for members and beneficiaries. At 31 August 2025, the charity’s net assets were £66,258.29, including cash at bank and in hand of £27,498.17.
6. Trustee Remuneration and Related Party Disclosure
Two current trustees also provide paid coaching services to the charity. These arrangements have been formalised by written employment agreements. The agreements state that remuneration is paid for services provided in operational coaching roles, and not for acting as charity trustees.
Ian Fergus is employed as Head of Coaching. His duties include organising and delivering football coaching programmes, training sessions, football camps and similar events, assisting with team coaching at competitive matches, developing players and supporting progression in line with the aims of the charity.
James Urquhart is employed as Deputy Head of Coaching. His duties include supporting the Head of Coaching in organising and delivering coaching programmes, training sessions, football camps and competitive matches, developing players and promoting enjoyment and progression.
The employment agreements state that each trustee/employee must declare any conflict of interest relating to remuneration or duties and abstain from participating in Management Committee decisions relating to their own remuneration or conditions of employment. The trustees consider that these paid roles are necessary for the effective delivery of the charity’s football coaching activities and that the remuneration is for operational services rather than trustee duties.
On behalf of the Trustees of Lochend Football Academy April 2026
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