Stay at Hampden locals urge SFA
Community businesses would be dealt a‘devastating blow’ if SFA up sticks and move away from the national stadium
The Scottish Football Association leaving Hampden Park would be a ‘devastating blow’ to Rutherglen, say local business owners.
The SFA are expected to reach a decision by Christmas on whether to renew the lease on Hampden Park, which runs out in 2020.
The high costs of running and maintaining the stadium, which is owned by amateur team Queen’s Park, as well as a potential rise in business rates may drive the SFA to up sticks and rotate the national team around other Scottish stadiums.
“This would be a devastating blow to Rutherglen and to my business,” said Willie Harvey, owner of Glencairn Social Club, which can hold 320 people on a match day.
“A big part of our revenue is reliant on Scotland games and cup games. The potential losses are huge.”
Sharon Forbes, from The Beechwood, just round the corner from the stadium, said: “It will affect us massively. The Scotland games are our busiest of the year. To not have those games at Hampden would mean potentially losing thousands of pounds in revenue.”
In Rutherglen, at the An RuadhGhleann Wetherspoons, manager David McAuley is also worried. “Main Street is a stopping point on the way to the ground. Whenever there is a game, we are always really busy. Our biggest day this year so far was the Scotland v England game, so the impact of losing so many major events would be huge.”
While supportive of the drive to keep Hampden Park as the national stadium for the Scottish football team, newlyelected Rutherglen councillor Martin Lennon said that this would be a good opportunity to also review how people who work there are treated and paid.
Speaking to the Reformer, the Celtic
season ticket holder said: “There is a huge emotional case for keeping Hampden as the home of Scottish football, and I am sure plenty of pubs, resteraunts and cafes in Rutherglen get a bumper day of sales when a match is on.
“In principle, I would support efforts by Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council or the Scottish Government to keep Hampden as the national stadium. However, this needs to be an opportunity to look at how well Hampden is serving its local community as well as the footballing community.
“Transport to and from Hampden, like most of Glasgow and Lanarkshire, needs massive investment to be fit for purpose.
“After spending years working at matches and concerts at Hampden, I know that the stadium relies on local working people to function but too often staff are taken for granted.
“The majority of matchday staff are paid well below the living wage, offered no guarantee of work and have to put up with huge instability for the sake of the current business model.
“The campaign to keep Scottish football at Hampden is an opportunity at make sure that Scottish football is doing right by the communities who support it both on the terraces, behind the kiosks and around the stadium.”
A Scottish FA spokesperson said: “The Scottish FA has entered into a period of consultation with key stakeholders on the tenancy agreement with Queen’s Park which expires in 2020. A tender process has also been undertaken with interested parties so that the Scottish FA Board can consider all options for the possible hosting of international and Scottish Cup matches under our jurisdiction after the lease expires. Only when the Board is presented with the full documentation will they be in a position to evaluate all the options available.”