Sport – Page 52 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Strollers strive to stamp out sectarianism

Civil Service Strollers club secretary Keith Stewart writes about an initiative to tackle a problem that continues to blight our ‘beautiful game’:

Civil Service Strollers is the only football club in Edinburgh that has received funding from the Scottish Government’s Voluntary Action Fund to undertake workshops on understanding sectarianism and how it affects the community.

We recognise the problem sectarianism plays in dividing communities, particularly in relation to football allegiance, and have set out to work with players and the local community to participate in informal education workshops that help increase their understanding of the issue and the negative impact on everyday interactions.

The workshops will culminate into a public event, when a range of community stakeholders will be invited to witness the showcasing of Civil Service Strollers workshop participants journey on achieving its aim of non- tolerance to sectarian behaviours in their football community.

A club spokesman said: “It’s about football clubs taking a stance to address sectarian issues that exist by bringing everyone together to understand the impact of sectarian behaviours on day to day relationships.”

Anyone interested in taking part in weekly community workshops should contact Club Secretary Keith Stewart on 07402521912

Police warning ahead of Sunday’s derby clash

Police in Edinburgh are reminding fans that a policing operation will be in place at this weekend’s derby match to identify anyone in possession of alcohol, fireworks or flares.

Over 14,000 spectators are expected at Easter Road Stadium tomorrow for the game, which kicks off at 12.15pm. Antisocial drinking in the surrounding streets will not be tolerated and officers will be enforcing the Edinburgh by-law in this regard.

In addition, police will be assisting stewards to carry out searches outside the ground to prevent illegal or prohibited items being smuggled in. A specially trained police dog will be deployed to detect explosive or combustible materials. Fans from both sides are urged to ensure their behaviour during the match does not put themselves or others in danger.

Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: “The atmosphere at the Edinburgh derby is always electric and we want all supporters to enjoy the day. Police will be patrolling around the stadium with a focus on stopping anti social street drinking and fans will be subject to searches as a condition of entry to the ground. A specialist search dog will be used to detect anyone in possession of fireworks or flares.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and while the behaviour of the vast majority of Hearts and Hibs fans is exemplary, the reckless conduct of a small minority could place everyone in danger.

“Anyone found to be in possession of these items, or any other objects that are not permitted within the stadium will be refused entry and may face further police action.”

Blackhall Athletic nets Neighbourhood support

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership recently awarded a community grant to local sports club Blackhall Athletic. The club used the funding to equip some of their teams with new tops, and INP Convener Councillor Nigel Bagshaw called in to a training session at Broughton High School to meet players and coaches last week.

Nigel said: “It’s great to support local initiatives like this. Community grants can make a real difference to small organisations and we’re delighted to be able to help Blackhall Athletic, who are doing a great job with our young people”.

Blackhall Athletic’s John Adams said: “We spend an awful lot of time trying to raise funds to support club activities but everyone knows how difficult that has been in recent times. We are constantly working at it and we hope to be self-sustaining in the future, but in the meantime this grant is really welcome. Quite simply, without this support we would not be able to continue to do what we do – so we are all really grateful to Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership”.

Blackhall Athletic is run by twenty-five adult volunteers who carry out a variety of tasks including coaching, first aid, administration and and committee duties. The club
currently has five teams, four boys and one girls, and they plan to start two more over the coming months – giving well over one hundred local boys and girls the opportunity to regularly take part in active sport.

John added: “As well as the sporting element, there are other benefits too. All of our boys and girls will, through training and playing, undertake over 180 hours of physical activity which is a health benefit.

“And then there’s teamwork. Our players come from all over the area; they go to different schools and come from different backgrounds but they are all the same when they put on the club strip. This teaches them that they must all work together to achieve success and the young people learn the life skills they will need as they grow into adulthood.”

That sounds like a home ‘win, win’ for both Blackhall Athletic and the wider Inverleith community.

Saltire Society awards for prominent Scots

Professor Sue Black, Sir Chris Hoy and Dr Ann Matheson honoured for their contribution to Scottish culture

Leading international scientist Professor Sue Black, Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and celebrated Academic Dr Ann Matheson have been named as this year’s winners of the Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Award.

Established in 1988, the award forms part of the Saltire Society’s annual awards programme, which recognises and celebrates Scottish culture and heritage. It celebrates the legacy of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, often remembered as one of Scotland’s true patriots, by recognising significant contributions made to Scottish culture.

Previous recipients include Tom Fleming, Donald Dewar, George Davie, Dolinna MacLennan, Robin Jenkins, George Mackay Brown and in 2013, William McIlvanney.

Nominations for the award are made by the Saltire Society Council who this year decided to broaden the scope to now include three different categories and thus three awards so as to recognise a wider range of achievements and to engage wider public interest. These categories are: Arts and Humanities, Public Life and Science.

The categories for the 2014 Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Award are:

Arts And Humanities – awarded to Dr Ann Matheson, member of the Board of the Scottish Poetry Library, for her lengthy and continued championing of Scotland’s literary and linguistic culture;

Public Life – awarded to Great Britain’s most successful Olympian and most successful Olympic cyclist of all time, Sir Chris Hoy;

Science – awarded to Professor Sue Black, Director of Dundee University’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification.

The ceremony took place at a reception at Edinburgh’s City Chambers on Saturday afternoon where winners were presented with a bespoke award by Convenor of the Saltire Society, David Ward.

Commenting on the Saltire Society Council’s selection Mr Ward said: “As a Council, we are thrilled to have been able to award one of our most prestigious accolades to three undisputable Ambassadors of Scottish culture.

“This year in particular Scotland finds itself in a spotlight on the world’s stage and we felt it appropriate that we should honour as wide a range of achievements as possible in order to truly be able to reflect the rich and varied cultural heritage that Scotland has to offer and that we support.

“2014’s Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Award recipients do that and more with their remarkable achievements highlighting some modern day examples of Scottish achievement.”

2014 award recipient Professor Sue Black of Dundee University said: “It is both an honour and a privilege to be selected as a recipient for this award, particularly when I see the calibre of fellow recipients past and present. “I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to the Saltire Society Council for electing to bestow this honour on me.”

Commenting on her award, Dr Ann Matheson said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Fletcher of Saltoun Award from the Saltire Society. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to be associated with Scotland’s literary culture, past and present, and with all those who work so steadfastly on its behalf, during an inspiring period in the nation’s history.”

For more information about The Saltire Society go to:

http://www.saltiresociety.org.uk/

News from Blackhall Athletic

The club currently has five teams (4 boys and 1 girls ), we are in the process of starting up another boys team and girls team and in January another boys team will be launched. That will give us 105 boys and girls having the opportunity to take part in active sport.

As well as the sporting element, there are other benefits too. All of our boys and girls will, through training and playing, undertake over 180 hours of physical activity which is a health benefit.

And then there’s teamwork. Our players come from all over the area; they go to different schools and come from different backgrounds but they are all the same when they put on the club strip. This teaches them that they must all work together to achieve success and the young people learn the life skills they will need as they grow into adulthood.

Recently the Inverleith Partnership awarded a grant of £1164 to equip some of our teams and we have just heard that Scotmid have awarded the club a grant of £450 which will be used to equip a new girls under 13 team .

The club would not exist without this financial support and the dedication of the 25 adult members of the club who carry out a variety of tasks such as coaches, first aiders, admin duties and committee members .

John Adams, Blackhall Athletic

Craigie Amateurs call for community support

Craigroyston Amateurs is your local adults football team, based in Craigroyston Boys Club on Muirhouse Parkway.

We currently have 19 registered players and play in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (LEAFA) Edinburgh Central League. So far this season we have played five games and our stats sit at four wins and a draw, and we have upcoming games in the East of Scotland Cup and The Scottish Cup.

What we would like is to get the whole area behind our guys – build a following, so to speak – so if you have a spare afternoon on a Saturday and enjoy a good game of football, come along and support your newest and freshest amateur team in the area!

The club also has teams at age levels from 08s to 00s …

Check out our website for more details

www.craigroystonamateurs.co.uk

On your marks for Festival of Sport

The annual action-packed Festival of Sport kicks off in the Capital next weekend, showcasing a huge variety of sport and physical activity opportunities between 20 September-5 October.

Beach volleyball is heading for Porty!

A host of free events will run during the two week festival across Edinburgh, including taster sessions, demonstrations and competitions to encourage people of all ages to discover the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Now in its sixth year, the 2014 programme has been designed to embrace the summer buzz of the Commonwealth Games and appeal to all age groups, activity levels and abilities.

Launching on the first day of the Beach Volleyball Continental Cup on Portobello Beach – the Festival will kick off with a selection of free activities on the beach to celebrate Portobello paving the path to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games! (But wrap up warm, people, it’s Porty not the Copacabana!)

Building on the success of previous years, the Council is working to drive interest and membership of local clubs. A Club and Coach Development Workshop Series will also be delivered as part of this year’s Festival, featuring workshops designed to support club volunteers and coaches.

Coaching highlights include a one-of-a-kind seminar with Werner Kern, world renowned coach for Germany’s Bayern Munich Football Club. Kern will address a host of football industry professionals – including representatives from Edinburgh’s Hibernian and Hearts of Midlothian Football Clubs – about nurturing young sporting talent.

This event is being held in partnership with the Scottish Football Association and forms part of Edinburgh’s 60th anniversary celebrations of being ‘Twinned’ with Munich.

The City’s Festival and Events Champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, expects the excitement of this summer’s Commonwealth Games to create an extra buzz around the Festival. He said: “I fully expect this year’s festival to prove the excitement of the Commonwealth Games has really boosted interest and participation in sport and physical activity in Edinburgh.

“The Festival of Sport is an important part of the Council’s legacy programme, and this year’s programme looks set to be another great year with so many free local opportunities on offer for everyone to take part.

“It is especially exciting to be marking the launch by supporting a world sporting debut for Portobello Beach, as it plays host to the qualifying rounds for the upcoming Beach Volleyball event as part of the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

As an integral part of the Activcity year-round programme, the 2014 Festival encourages residents and visitors to have a more active and healthy lifestyle. The key partners in delivering the event include Edinburgh Leisure, ClubSportEdinburgh and sportscotland.

How to get involved:

For further information and to register, visit Festival of Sport.

To find out more about the Beach Volleyball Continental Cup taking place at Portobello Beach, visit the Scottish Volleyball Association website.

To see what coaching and club workshops are taking place, and attend an event, visit the Coaching Edinburgh website.

Enjoy your sport!

Cancer charity fundraiser at Spartans this Sunday

The Jordan Houston Trust, a charity established in 2012 to support children suffering from cancer and their families, is holding a fundraising family fun day event at Spartans on Sunday.

Jordan, who died aged eleven from a rare type of brain tumour, was a football fanatic so it’s fitting that the highlight of the family fun day is a match between the Jordan Houston Trust Select and the mighty Hibs (kick off 4pm)!

For further information on the charity visit www.jordanhoustontrust.org

Fans First! Greens set out plans for fan-owned football

Hearts were on the brink, there’s deep disquiet about investment at Hibs and the mighty Rangers are in trouble once again. All is far from well in the world of football finance, so can the Scottish Greens score with Fans First?

The Green MSPs have confirmed long-standing plans to bring changes to land reform legislation to give football fans the right to buy their clubs.

The proposals were set out in a consultation response to Holyrood’s Local Government and Regeneration Committee, which is about to start consideration of the Scottish Government’s Community Empowerment Bill.

The submission also sets out plans by Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who is leading the Greens’ “Fans First” campaign, to broaden the 2003 Land Reform Act to include intangible community assets, not just land, in line with the general principles of the Scottish Government’s proposals. This would help communities to take on and run vital services like pubs, local cinemas, and even public transport.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said: “The time has come for the Scottish Parliament to give fans the power to take on their clubs when they come on the market or when they go into administration, or possibly even at any time for a fair price.

“We’ve always argued that fans will tend to be the best custodians of the clubs they love, and that the long-term security and strength of Scottish football requires a move towards the kind of community ownership common elsewhere.

“Scottish Ministers have set up a working group under Stephen Morrow to look at this issue, which we support. However, the group will report after this legislation has been considered, so it’s vital that this legislative opportunity shouldn’t be missed. The changes we’re proposing will still mean fans’ trusts will require Ministerial signoff, just as is already the case with land reform, so the only risk would be if Parliament rejects our proposals, leaving fans with no prospect of progress any time soon.

“So we’re encouraging all the trusts in Scotland to make their views known. Do they want to cross their fingers and rely on the current slow move to fan ownership, or do they want Parliament’s support to put them in the driving seat?”