The Lanarkshire 2011 volleyball squad has received a welcome boost from Scotland’s leading central heating specialists.
With less than four weeks to go until the Lanarkshire 2011 International Children’s Games, heating company Saltire has served a winner and agreed to sponsor the volleyball competition.
Around 125 players from 11 countries will be competing in the three day volleyball event at Wishaw Sports Hall when the games start on August 3.
The boys and girls Lanarkshire volleyball squads may only have been established a year ago but the teams have since gone from strength to strength. The boys’ squad finished second and the girls’ squad fourth in the Scottish Junior National League this year at Under 16 level. Five members of the squad have also been selected to represent Scotland at the UK Schools Games in Sheffield in September. Marc McLaughlin, Elise Rodgers, Conor Walker, Matthew Berry and Aimee Coutts will follow the Lanarkshire games by competing at under 17s level against the home nations.
Greg Coburn, head coach of the boys team said: “The players have been exceptional to work with over the last year and have displayed a very professional work ethic and attitude. This has prepared them well for the International Children’s Games and since joining the programme a number of the players have also been selected to represent their country at other Volleyball events.”
Saltire is just one of a number of companies to sponsor a game 
at the Lanarkshire event. David Black Managing Director of Saltire Facilities Management Ltd, said: “The Games are a wonderful opportunity to put Lanarkshire on the map and as a Lanarkshire based company we are pleased to be supporting the event to make it an outstanding success.”
Jim Smith, depute leader of North Lanarkshire Council added: “We’ve had a great deal of support from our companies who realise the importance of bringing the Games to Scotland. The generous support of Saltire for the Volleyball event is a real boost and we really appreciate their contribution.”