The Opportunity Enhancement Trust has teamed up with Moray Art Centre and Scottish Association for Mental Health for the annual Fans Football Tournament taking place in Lossiemouth on Saturday.
Organiser Steven Rattray believes this year’s competition has the potential to be the best yet.
"We are ahead of schedule both in terms of entries and with regards the organisation process of getting referees on board etc and the partnerships we have forged will add something extra to mark the 10th year of the event."
The 7 a-side tournament is one of five events that are running in partnership with Moray Art Centre, who are running a summer-long programme of art and sporting events inspired by the Olympipcs including the "Masters And Champions: Classical Greece - 300 Years of British Inspiration" exhibition.
From the Fans Football Tourney and Findhorn Fun Run, to a Mini Art and Sport Fayre and the recently successful Badminton Buckie, the Opportunity Enhancement Trust and Moray Art Centre are working together to recreate the original Olympic values, in which the arts were as prominent as sporting events.
Diane A Smith, Centre Manager, Moray Art Centre said they were thrilled to be teaming up with the Opportunity Enhancement Trust, not just for the Fans Football Tourney, but also for the four other art and sport events happening in Moray this summer.
"We hope that the cross over of themes will inspire athletes and artists alike to try their hand at something completely new," she said, "from Ping Pong Pollock to creating cardboard box cities, encouraging not just the football fans but also family, friends and the wider Moray community to become Masters And Champions this summer."
In addition to this the OET has recently forged links with the Scottish Association for Mental Health with the aim of highlighting the support available to males who are experiencing problems with their mental health and need help and advice.
Moray SAMH Service Manager Tracy Grant, said they welcome the opportunity to highlight the work being carried out by the organisation to both try and prevent suicides and offer help to those who have been affected by the suicides of friends or relatives:
She said anyone can be affected by suicide at some point in their life and events like the 7-a-side football tournament are really important because they raise awareness of the issue and inform people about the help available.
"One of the key messages to get across is that when people feel overwhelmed by problems or suicidal, they shouldn’t hide it. People should talk to someone they trust,
phone Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90."
The Masters and Champions Fans Football tournament has been deliberately scheduled on a Saturday during the pre-season schedule to ensure a fun atmosphere on the day and that is supported by Fifa referee Morag Pirie who is amongst a group of top referees from the region that ensure fair play at all times.
