7 mins ago World Cup surprise for Extra Time & Girls Only participants
Participants from two of The Killie Community’s school programmes enjoyed a memorable visit to Hampden Park on Tuesday 26 May after being invited to the home of Scottish football.
Pupils from Gargieston Primary School’s Girls Football Team and Loanhead Primary School’s Scottish FA Extra Time programme were welcomed to Hampden for a special experience celebrating football, creativity and opportunity.
The visit was particularly memorable for Aidan from Loanhead Primary, whose artwork has been selected to appear on a Scotland team suitcase that will travel to the World Cup.
Aidan attended Hampden alongside fellow Loanhead pupils who take part in The Killie Community’s Extra Time programme. Funded by the Scottish FA, Extra Time is based primarily at The Killie Community Hub and also delivered across seven schools in Ayrshire, providing important after-school support and opportunities for young people.
They were joined by pupils from Gargieston Primary’s Girls Football Team, which The Killie Community helped to start and continues to coach and facilitate. The team gives girls regular access to football in a supportive environment, helping them build skills, confidence and friendships through the game.
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As part of the day, the pupils also had the chance to meet members of the Scotland squad, including Findlay Curtis, who spent 2026 on loan at Kilmarnock. It made the Hampden experience even more special for the young participants, giving them a close-up connection to the national team and a familiar face within.
The day gave pupils the chance to visit one of Scottish football’s most iconic venues and see first-hand where the national team plays, while celebrating the role football can have in inspiring young people across Ayrshire.
Craig Tracey, Education & Football Development Lead, said:
“Opportunities like this can stay with young people for the rest of their lives. For our Extra Time and Girls Only participants to visit Hampden, meet Scotland players and be part of such a special moment for Aidan is something they will never forget.
“As a charity, we want to use the legacy of the World Cup to inspire even more young people across Ayrshire to get involved in football, build their confidence and feel part of something positive in their community.”
The Killie Community is proud to work closely with schools across Ayrshire, using football and the Kilmarnock FC badge to create positive experiences for children and young people both on and off the pitch.
From girls’ football and after-school provision to wider school programmes, the charity continues to support participation, wellbeing and opportunity in local communities.
Schools interested in working with The Killie Community can find out more here:
https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/community/programmes/schools/
