The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
The beautiful game is a ‘force for good’
Uefa report states national sport benefits Scotland to tune of £1.25 billion
Participation in grassroots football provides benefits worth about £1.25 billion to Scottish society, according to a European study.
The report, commissioned by European football’s governing body, Uefa, in conjunction with the Scottish Football Association (SFA), claims there is a direct economic impact of £200 million from playing the game, plus preventative healthcare savings of more than £700 million.
It also values “social benefits” at more than £300 million.
The authors of the report claim they have uncovered “unique tangible evidence” of the economic, social and health benefits that Scotland’s most popular sport stimulates.
Examples include savings of £40 million on mental health services by preventing 5,000 cases. Savings for cardiovascular treatment were estimated at £25 million and Type 2 diabetes at £10 million.
Other social and economic benefits are said to include crime reduction, job creation, assisting unemployed people and improving education.
Scotland has 147,555 registered players but an estimated 780,000 people play the game in total, mostly at an informal level. The research was carried out in conjunction with academics from Birmingham, Brunel and Loughborough universities, and involved case studies from Aberdeen FC’s Community Trust.
The study looked at the SFA’s involvement in the Uefa Grow programme, which aims to improve participation in football through sharing information and cooperation between football federations across Europe.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “We have known for decades the positive impact football as the national sport has on the population: it can inspire a nation, unite families and entire communities, and make society a better place.
“The findings in the Uefa Grow report outline the extent to which football is a force for good in helping to deliver the Scottish Government’s health and wellbeing agenda, and also the dramatic impact the national game has on the economy.
“We committed to this project to reaffirm football’s place as an essential fabric of Scottish society and we are pleased to present these findings to the Scottish Government.”
Joe FitzPatrick, minister for public health, sport and wellbeing, added: “Football is Scotland’s national game and can be a powerful force for good in our communities.As this report clearly states, the many programmes delivered through football are helping people stay active, improve their physical and mental health, and tackle issues ranging from loneliness and isolation to education and community safety.”
It is one in the eye for those who claim our national game is no longer as beautiful as it once was. We often hear that football is all about big business these days, with overpaid professionals strutting their stuff at the mercy of television chief executives.
There may be some truth behind claims those involved in the higher levels of the game have become far too mercenary.
However, before we castigate the whole sport it is worth remembering what a transformational impact it can have.
At a time of bulging waistlines and concerns over our penchant for technology and screen time instead of oldfashioned social interaction, we would do well to remember that football seems to be one of the few things that can encourage youngsters into the great outdoors.
Whether it is jumpers for goalposts or something more organised, the game remains enchanting for hundreds of thousands of young people.
And the results are tangible.
A new report claims participation in grassroots football provides benefits worth about £1.25 billion to Scottish society.
The methodology is perhaps open to question but there is no doubting the conclusion – football is a significant force for good.
A boost to the economy, it is also improves health and wellbeing – surely goals we are all happy to share.