Tillicoultry native Martin Bell is the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s latest recruit in Scotland and he has hit the ground running in his new role as a Community Engagement Officer.

Martin is a former Active Schools Co-ordinator and spent two years as the Football Operations Co-ordinator for the University of Sydney.

Now he is back in Scotland, one of Martin’s first assignments with the CRT has been to organise a trip to Wales for Scotland’s two teams in the Coalfields Home Internationals against teams from mining communities in England and Wales.

Martin, who hails from Tillicoultry, but now lives in Falkirk said: “I am really looking forward to the Home Internationals and having seen both our teams play I am confident they will do well.

“Apart from my involvement in the Home Internationals I am really enjoying the variety my new role offers including learning how programmes like the CRT’s Coalfields Community Futures is helping mining areas decided how their local areas should develop.” Scotland will be represented by Clackmannan’s Wasps Community Club 2000, and Grange Academy from East Ayrshire in the Home Internationals, which will be played at Merthyr Town FC’s Pennydarren Park in South Wales over the weekend of August 21-23.

Pauline Douglas, Head of Operations with the CRT said: “We are really pleased to have Martin on board, particularly since his skills and experience compliment those of the rest of the team.”