By Calum Macdonald High heels couldn't keep Nicola Sturgeon off the football field as she enjoyed a kickabout with kids at an anti-sectarianism initiative.

By Calum Macdonald

High heels couldn't keep Nicola Sturgeon off the football field as she enjoyed a kickabout with kids at an anti-sectarianism initiative.

The deputy first minister was in Glasgow to see the work being done by the Old Firm Alliance when she was asked to take part in a training session for kids run by Rangers and Celtic.

And despite her stilettos the MSP for Govan made a decent attempt at dribbling the ball between obstacles.

The project, run by Rangers and Celtic and supported by the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, uses football coaching sessions and workshops to pass on messages about a range of issues to primary school children.

Ms Sturgeon was at the Keppoch Campus in Possilpark, which is shared by Saracen and St Teresa's RC primary schools, to make an award to Justin Bradley, the 25,000th youngster to take part in the project.

She said: "All credit to Rangers and Celtic for taking the initiative.

"Children want to play football and be involved with the clubs, and when they join up they are given positive messages about health, education and anti-sectarianism.

"We need to change attitudes and Rangers and Celtic are doing their bit."

Between them the teams have spent £412,000 on the Old Firm Alliance since it was set up in 2004.

The coaching sessions are held at 10 football centres across the city and involve boys and girls from 108 Glasgow primaries.

An independent evaluation found 97% of young people who got involved in the project said it had a positive impact on their life.

Justin, 10, was given tickets to see Rangers play at home for being the 25,000th youngster.

The Saracen Primary pupil said: "I really like the sessions. I'm going to take my dad to Ibrox."

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "The project has undoubtedly influenced the attitudes of these young people on important issues like health and anti-social behaviour."

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, said: "Celtic takes its social responsibility very seriously."