Boost for city youngsters as football centres reopen
THERE has been more than one reason to celebrate for young football fans in Glasgow this week. Not only did Kenny McLean’s penalty at Hampden Park put the national team just one win away from a first major championship in 22 years; they can once again try to emulate Scotland’s stars on pitches across the city.
Glasgow Life, in partnership with community groups, has reopened facilities in Pollok, with centres in Springburn and Easterhouse to follow tonight.
David McDonald, Glasgow Life’s chairman and depute leader of the city council, said football has a “really special hold over the city” and there had been “such high hopes” for this year, when UEFA Euro 2020 was set to arrive.
“All of our grand plans gave way to the global pandemic,” he said.
The tournament has been rescheduled for 2021, when top players from Croatia and the Czech Republic will join Serbia or, hopefully, Scotland for Group D games at Hampden Park.
But many local players have been unable to get a game during the Covid- 19 crisis.
“Our future success as a footballing nation relies on these young boys and girls getting a chance to play,” Mr McDonald said.
On Saturday morning, under- 18 players from Pollok United Soccer Academy returned to the pitches at Nethercraigs Sports Complex.
And games will be played at Stepford Sports Complex and Springburn Synthetic Pitch today ( Monday).
Glasgow Life’s football development team is working with FARE and Easterhouse Football Academy at Stepford, Partick Thistle Charitable Trust in Springburn and Pollok United at Nethercraigs.
“These venues reopening without McDonald said.
The ‘ community activation pilot’ has been designed as temporary, emergency response to challenges posed by the pandemic.
Glasgow Life hopes the move will limit the damage to communities caused by restricted access to facilities.
Partners will develop programming with other clubs and users.
There are more than 18,000 players registered with Glasgow clubs, and 45 per cent of football teams are in the north east of the city, with 40 per cent in the south.
Mr McDonald said the wouldn’t be their help,” Mr pilot scheme has been launched in areas which need it most.
“It is vital young people are still allowed to be young people and do what they are passionate about,” he said.
“There have been too many stories about young peoples’ mental health being impacted.”
The scheme will be monitored and could be rolled out across other parts of the city.
Glasgow Life is facing a shortfall of around £ 25m as a result of the Covid- 19 pandemic.
“We need to change some of the ways we deliver services,” Mr McDonald said, adding there could be opportunities to improve services, with more partnership working.
He has an “open mind” to ideas and will work with any community group which has a plan for reopening venues.
Mr McDonald said: “During the uncertainty of Covid- 19, and following the lockdown faced by everyone across the country, we’re delighted this partnership will allow some outdoor pitches to reopen, and give our young people a change to grow and develop their love for football again. The progress of this pilot will be carefully monitored across the coming months and, if it’s successful as we think it’ll be, we’ll explore opportunities to extend it to other venues in Glasgow.”