The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Youth football welcomes philanthropist’s donation
Scottish youth football has received a £300,000 boost from the Scottish Football Partnership Trust and philanthropist James Anderson.
More than 4,000 teams and 60,000 players are set to benefit from the donation and it will help alleviate increased costs that Scottish Youth FA clubs and parents face due to new safety measures.
James Clydesdale, chairman of the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, said: “We greatly appreciate James Anderson’s interest and support and have identified specific areas with the Scottish Youth FA where we can help youth football.
“This will make a huge difference to a large number of clubs and tens of thousands of youngsters.
“Youth football needs support at a time when every level of football has been hit hard by the pandemic crisis.”
The SFPT and SYFA proposals include funding to offset membership and affiliation fees for teams competing in small-sided or 11-a-side leagues.
There will also be grant support for 2,000 youth coaches and volunteers.
Support was also identified for additional costs of increased safety procedures such as PPE, hand sanitisers, enhanced medical kits and additional training kits and footballs.
Edinburgh-based investment manager Anderson had already donated £250,000 to the SFPT last month to help steer the women’s game through the coronavirus pandemic and made a donation worth £3.125 million to the SPFL to give every club access to a £50,000 grant while also aiding community projects at the start of June.
John McCrimmond, SYFA chairman, said: “We would like to express the utmost gratitude to James Anderson for this outstanding gesture and, of course, to the Scottish Football Partnership for their on-going support.
“The ability to provide an entire season of SYFA membership free of charge to every single team in Scotland will go some way to relieving this burden.
“Whilst the spotlight has been on the professional game, it is at the grassroots level that the vast majority of football in this country is played.
“Last season we had more than 60,000 registered players who haven’t been able to play football for more than four months now. This money will help ensure that we get as many of those players back on the pitch as possible.”
The SYFA cover age-groups up to and including Under-21s with more than 4,000 teams and 62,293 players (2019-20) – a record high.
SYFA operational costs are predominantly covered by membership fees paid by their member teams.
Paul McNeill, Scottish FA head of community development, said: “The crucial funds will help support grassroots clubs and volunteers as they continue to help bring the sport back to so many young people.
“Grassroots clubs have played a massive role in supporting the local community during the challenges of Covid-19 and this investment will provide much needed support.”