This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Youth football starting to roll
13/09/2002
A series of measures designed to promote and develop
youth football across the country were announced today.
First Minister Jack McConnell and Sports Minister Mike
Watson were at the National Stadium in Glasgow to welcome
the news.
- Lloyds TSB Scotland's sponsorship of the Euro 2008
Bid, with its emphasis on getting youngsters to play
football
- £24 million of new funding for school sports
programmes
- the Executive assistance in the implementation of
the recommendations for changes to youth football
resulting from the SFA's review announced today
Mr McConnell said:
"I recognise football's particular place in Scottish
sport, in culture and its impact on the economic and social
well-being of many people. That is why we are so determined
to do all that we can to secure Euro 2008.
"And we are doing all we can to ensure that as many
children as possible can participate in football and sport
at school and that they have access to facilities they
need.
"As announced yesterday in Parliament, youth football
will benefit from the £24m additional funds we are now
making available to develop school sport through the Active
Primary Schools and School Sport Development Officer
programmes. We are committed to building the links between
schools and local clubs so that the pathways and the
coaching are available to enable everyone to develop their
sporting potential.
"I want to see Scottish teams doing well at club and
national levels. I want us to have football teams we can
take pride in and which Scottish youngsters will aspire to
play for. That is why I am delighted that the SFA is
announcing today its review into youth football
development.
"This review will have a wide remit. It will recommend a
single national framework for the delivery of football
development. This is important work which is why the
Executive is helping to fund the review.
"If radical changes are recommended through the review,
we will look to the SFA and the sport of football at all
levels to grasp the nettle and do what is necessary to make
Scottish football a modern and dynamic game.
"It must be capable of maintaining a large playing base;
able to identify and nurture talent; and compete
successfully at European and World levels. We must have a
streamlined and modern organisation capable of delivering
results in the 21
st century."
SFA Chief Executive with First Minister Jack McConnell
and Susan Rice of Lloyds TSB Scotland at Hampden today.
Sports Minister Mike Watson said Lloyds TSB Scotland's
support of the Scotland-Ireland Euro 2008 Bid was another
boost ahead of next week's visit by UEFA Inspectors.
He said:
"Support at grass-roots level is vital to the future of
the game. I am delighted that Lloyds TSB Scotland's
contribution will benefit junior football. Having Lloyds
TSB Scotland on board is further evidence of the level of
support and belief in our Euro 2008 bid that exists amongst
the business community.
"We look forward to the UEFA Inspection Team's visit. We
have a great bid to show them: not only more - and bigger -
stadiums in place than any of our competitors, but an
experienced and efficient organising team and the warmest
possible welcome from Scotland and Ireland."