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FM gives backing to the 'Revolution'
01/04/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond today met with Scotland and Liverpool football legend Steve Nicol, now head coach of Major League Soccer (MLS) side New England Revolution.
Nicol, who won 27 caps for his country and played around 350 matches for Liverpool during the 1980s and 90s, presented the First Minister with a commemorative New England Revolution shirt at a reception in Boston.
The pair met up when the First Minister officially opened Scottish Development International's new office in the city, as part of the Scotland Week programme in the US.
Alex Salmond said:
"Although I'm more focussed on delivering a New Scotland Independence, I'm delighted to give my support to the New England Revolution.
"I remember Steve Nicol as a highly skilful but resolute honest defender with Liverpool and Scotland - just the sort of qualities that I have no doubt have made him the success he is as a coach in the US.
"These are also the sort of qualities - alongside creativity, flexibility and knowledge - that are central to our Government's drive to help Scottish businesses establish themselves in the US and to attract investment into Scotland from major American firms.
"SDI play a crucial role in encouraging overseas companies to invest in Scotland, to help Scottish companies do more business overseas, and to promote Scotland as a good place to live, work and do business.
"Last year, SDI was instrumental in bringing nearly $200 million dollars in investment to Scotland from North American companies, investment which has supported more than 3,300 jobs in Scotland - many in our key growth sectors of financial services, life sciences, energy and digital media."
SDI, the international trade and investment arm of the Scottish Government, has staff in six offices in North America - Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Jose and Toronto.