SCOTLAND is in the grips of two campaigns – an election and a bid at winning the Euros.
Going by the TV viewing figures, if one was vying for the attention of the public, football is winning. The match last Friday may not have gone our way, but the Tartan Army was out in full force.
Bagpipes hit the streets of Munich as thousands travelled to the city to see Scotland play in its first major men’s tournament in more than 26 years.
It seems that the tournament started out in good spirits even if there were reports that some bars had ran out of beer.
Scotland’s match on Friday garnered 22.5 million viewers, meanwhile the first election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer (above) pulled in a measly 4.8 million. Perhaps for some, the Euros provides some light relief from the current state of politics.
Many argued that this election was poor timing, and perhaps for politicians they’re absolutely correct, but maybe not so much for the public.
READ MORE: What the Tartan Army have taught us about the Scots language
Although there is an argument to separate politics and sport, it is undeniable that the two are incontestably linked.
As the election campaign struggles on – or at least that’s how it feels – there hasn’t been a big focus on sport. Now this is to be expected when the NHS is creaking, there’s a lack of housing and economic plans are being debated. But we really shouldn’t take our eyes off the ball.
The Euros represent the very top of the game but it’s the grassroots that makes any of it possible. For the likes of grassroots sport, it’s been a bumpy road in recent years and the need to keep fighting for its survival means we shouldn’t separate the two.
Over the past year or so, Scotland, and the rest of the UK, has been plagued with sports centres and facilities closing down. Clubs and initiatives are having their funding cut and local authorities are having to make very tough decisions.
Although the Scottish Youth Football Association claims that record numbers are taking part in the game – which is great to hear – we really need to ensure we’re promoting equal access to football.
READ MORE: Question Time: BBC receives more than 100 'bias against Kate Forbes' complaints
The sustained underfunding of local authorities has had a knock-on effect to the upkeep of facilities and their future. With the popularity of playing football so high, voices within the sport say there aren’t enough facilities to sustain the interest.
Unfortunately, it is the most deprived areas that have to face up to this fact. Furthermore, new facilities being built quite often end up pricing the local community out, as the prices being charged are just unsustainable for many. Bigger clubs and wealthier areas end up being the only ones who can afford them and are ultimately in control.
There is funding coming in, in drips and drabs. Recent funding of £6 million will be directed to 40 grassroots football clubs throughout Scotland, courtesy of the UK Government. Pitch upgrades and new floodlights will aid in offering better facilities and nurturing Scottish grassroots football. But this doesn’t exactly add-up to a long-term robust strategy.
In the past decade, we’ve also borne witness to the slash and save strategy from the Scottish Government. Since 2010, more than 100 playing fields have been sold-off to make way for private developments and other projects. In Dumfries and Galloway, this meant that by 2018, the council only owned two pitches for all of their residents. This short-sightedness is an aspect that could look to threaten future talent in the sport.
READ MORE: I interviewed Alba, Greens and the SNP – here's what I learned
Not to mention that all the benefits generated by sport should be available to all. And let’s face it, this short-sightedness will identify itself as further stress on the NHS. Access to sport is an excellent preventive health policy – one that has worked excellently in other European countries.
Grassroots football is one of the most popular pastimes in Scotland, yet it still has to struggle to establish sufficient funding and have the same influence that the bigger clubs take advantage of.
Yet, football isn’t alone. Swimming is also one of the more popular sports enjoyed by Scots and it has also seen success at the very top level. However, I’ve lost count of the number of swimming pools recently closed throughout the country.
Swimming lessons have inevitably been cut back because of this and on top of that, many councils – Stirling being the most recent – have also cut back on their school swimming lesson programmes.
Perhaps more niche, but curling is in the same boat. Not played by large numbers but the Scots are internationally recognised as excellent curlers. Yet ice rinks are closing, and slashed funding also puts that in jeopardy.
So unless we want to wait another 26 years for another chance at the Euros, we better make sure there’s the grassroots funding to get us there.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here