According to our records, the year 2008 will see the 70^th anniversary of the formation of our movement.  The original name of the organisation was “ Aberdeen Union of Boys’ Clubs”.  The name remained until 1974 when the increased its remit to cover Grampian. The “Grampian Union of Boys’ Clubs” name lasted for ten years until, with the introduction of a girls section was changed once more to “Grampian Union of Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs”.  A further change appeared in 1998 when the word “Keystone” was added and the organisation became known as “Keystone Grampian Federation of Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs”.

Although through the years our name may have changed, our aims have always been the same, namely the welfare of our clubs and its members. Along the way the committee has had a fair share of successes and failures but has tried its best to move with the times.  The Federation has always tied our local activities with events held at National and International events.

It has to be said that along the way, as a unit, the club has had quite a few memorable highlights, with various workshops coming to the fore, namely – leader training, drugs awareness and child protection. To this day, when other Federation members meet it always seems to come into conversation that when Grampian stages an open event, it always “pulls out the stops” and tries to stage something that has lasting memories for all concerned.

Two such recent events highlight Grampians ability to shine as an organisation willing to impress while staging National activities.  The 2001 AGM of CYP (Scotland) at the New Marcliffe hotel at Pitfodels, launched the benchmark for the following years as each Federation takes its turn to stage this prestigious event. The second was the 2002 Four Nations tournament at the Chris Anderson Stadium. This involved our sister organisations from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and required the feeding, sleeping and playing of sixty four players and all officials. This mammoth task was achieved with volunteers working together in the sole aim of offering opportunities to young people. 

Now, as a turning point in our history beckons, with a further name change to complete the corporate UK identity, it is the hope that future undertakings will compare or surpass what has now become legend.

Let’s hope “Clubs for Young People Grampian”, can emulate and indeed strive to surpass what was achieved in the past.

James Reid
Secretary  
1^st November 2007