Supporters meet up to salute the beautiful game
Junior clubs’ fans and celebrities join European campaign
A European wide campaign to banish bigotry and celebrate the joys of football arrived in Barrhead.
Fans of junior football clubs from across the West of Scotland gathered at Arthurlie Inns in the town for an event to mark Football People fortnight.
Football People is organised by Football Against Racism Europe ( FARE) to promote diversity and inclusion as well as challenge prejudice in the game.
Every year the UEFA- backed network funds activities across the continent which help promote inclusion in the game.
Tens of thousands of people took part in Football People activity across more than 30 countries.
The Barrhead event was cosponsored by Nil by Mouth and featured a special panel of figures from the world of Scottish football for an evening of discussion and reflection on how the game can enrich lives.
The event was compared by Robert Burns, host of Pulse FM’s hugely popular Junior Football show and the panel featured ex-Arthurlie player and manager Sandy Maclean, referee Des Roche, radio presenter Michelle Evans, sportswriter Stewart Weir and SFA head of communities Paul McNeil.
In a special twist the panel were being asked to bring with them three items which remind them of their love of the game.
A packed room was regaled by the panel’s stories of how football had changed their life for the better as each speaker highlighted what the game meant to them both personally and at a community level.
Nil By Mouth director Dave Scott said: “The campaign is all about celebrating how the sport can bring people together and we certainly heard some amazing stories from the panel about how football changed their lives for the better.
“Sandy kicked off and you could have heard a pin drop as he told us a deeply personal story about his late sister and her support for him as a player.
“Des provided a real insight into how local community clubs can be used a force for good in the game.
“Michelle reflected on a range of roles she has held in the game and some hilarious anecdotes about her career. Stewart brought the house down when he showed us his World Cup media accreditation from 1998.
“And finally Paul brought down the curtain on the night making us laugh and cry in equal measure as he testified how football had, quite literally, saved his live. All these stories were shared with an audience drawn from junior clubs from across the west of Scotland and celebrated how football is a game that belongs to everyone.
“It was a very touching and powerful evening as the panel opened up about how football had helped them overcome obstacles and difficulties in their lives.
“Huge thanks must go to Robert Burns for all his hard work in putting this event together and reminding us why we call it the beautiful game.’”