Green is the colour, and soccer is the game.

Glasgow, Scotland’s storied Celtic Soccer Academy and the Moose Jaw Soccer Association have signed a partnership agreement this will be beneficial to both clubs.

The MJSA will get the Celtic academy’s shared methodologies, curriculums and coaching camps, and present the opportunity for players within the MJSA to send their players to the Elite Player Programme to further develop as people and soccer players.

“It was an encounter with somebody who had ties with Celtic and ties here in Moose Jaw,” said Jordan Jeffery, technical director for the Moose Jaw Soccer Association. “He suggested that we have a conversation as Celtic were looking to expand their international partners' program, and they were looking for somewhere in Western Canada to set up a hub. Obviously, we’re delighted and privileged to be that location at the end of that, settling on to be the hub of their western Canada partnership program.”

As well as the potential for Glasgow training and coaching, Celtic will also host events with partner clubs in North America.

“We’re are aware that they are hosting some in New York when it’s next safe to do so,” Jeffery said. “We’ll be looking at sending players to New York, and we’ll also look to send a younger team around a 13-14 age to America to play in the Celtic international tournament where they’ll play against other Celtic FC-partnered club teams.”

The MJSA will be able to send their coaches to participate in the coaches convention in Glasgow to receive a behind the scenes look at how they develop young players to reach their potential.

“For them, they have the luxury now of being involved in Western Canada, which is somewhere they’ve been looking to set up for a while,” Jeffery said. “They’ll be able to come here and host stuff in Moose Jaw with us. Obviously, the pandemic has kind of halted the plans we did have in place for the summer this year.”

Jeffery said they will be coming out as soon as it’s safe to host something to bring out a number of players, in order to get in front of their coaches and bring the players something they haven’t had access to.

Celtic are also happy about the partnership.

“We are absolutely delighted to announce that Moose Jaw SA is now an International Partner Club, emphasizing once again our commitment to develop the game across the globe,” said Celtic’s senior international soccer academy manager Chris Smith in a media release on Celtic FC's website. "This exciting new partnership emphasizes their commitment to providing the best environment for their players and coaches to develop and enjoy the game."