Christina Mckelvie helps Phoenix rise
MSP drops in to encourage Hamilton club
Hamilton Phoenix Boys’ Club’s young stars swapped the pitch for politics recently as they met up with MSP Christina Mckelvie.
The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP granted the club support in their player recruitment drive.
That seemed to help, with a few new faces joining the squad ahead of the August ‘transfer window’ slamming shut.
Hillhouse-based Hamilton Phoenix, who train at the Jock Stein Centre in Hillhouse, turned their sights to league success as they kicked off their season with a win over Airdrie side Gartcairn.
Following that victory, Ms Mckelvie visited the club to wish them well for the season ahead.
She said: “When their coach James Wynn reached out to me online to help them with a few last-minute summer signings, I was delighted to organise a visit to the club.
“It’s clear to see the real family, community-based spirit and ethos that is passed on from the coaches and parents to the players.
“Football can be a force for good, having a transformative impact on the lives of young players.
“From keeping fit or from working as a team, Hamilton Phoenix Boys’ Club are using the power of sport as a vehicle to improve the lives of young people throughout my constituency.
“It was a delight to meet the team and I wish them all the best for the season ahead.”
Hamilton Phoenix Boys’ Club coach James Wynn said: “The club is very much in its infancy, but it has made a great impact in the local and wider community, hosting training sessions for over 30 kids at a time.
“The idea of community is at the very heart of the club. Volunteers, parents and grandparents are all loving the feel-good factor created at the club.
“We have developed a real family atmosphere and even have up to 50 parents, friends and relatives attending the matches on a Saturday.
“For Christina to take time out of her busy schedule and meet with the players and parents is fantastic.
“It’s great to see MSPS getting involved in promoting the game at grassroots level and supporting clubs in this way.
“Getting kids along to the training is an obvious key element in our growth, and to have Christina support our recruitment drive via Twitter was fantastic.”