Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2026 [Draft]
I thank Gillian Mackay for securing this important debate. I know that she has campaigned passionately on various football issues to ensure that football remains focused on the fans—the very people who sustain it.
On any match day in my Lothian region, whether people are walking through Leith towards Easter Road stadium or heading to Tynecastle park, the atmosphere on our streets is transformed. People can feel the energy, the vibrancy and the unity.
On match days, our local businesses thrive, too. Cafes, pubs and shops are full, so the local economy feels the boost.
However, match days are not just about sport; they are about community life. Families and friends gather to celebrate the beautiful game. When sons and daughters attend their first live match, the experience stays with them for ever. I remember my first visit to Tynecastle, with my uncle and other members of my family, to watch Hearts play. I am a Hearts supporter, and my team are at the top of the league at the moment. I hope that, at the end of the season, Heart of Midlothian will have won the premier league. Of course, I look forward to Scotland winning the world cup, too.
At that first match, I still remember the roaring crowd, the anticipation and the pride—that experience has never left me. I cannot remember who won, but that feeling has stayed with me since I was a very young age.
In challenging times, football offers something powerful. For 90 minutes, people can set aside their daily worries. Supporters have told me that, after a win, they feel lifted, re-energised and ready to face the week ahead with renewed optimism.
Fans are the life-blood of our clubs. They are the 12th person, pushing their team forward and creating a sense of camaraderie and belonging. However, their impact goes far beyond the stadium walls.
Earlier this week, I visited Spartans Community Foundation in Pilton. Its work brings together football, youth work, education and community engagement. It supports about 2,500 local people each week, and it employs 77 staff, many of whom are loyal supporters of the club. The foundation’s new education pavilion includes a science, technology, engineering and mathematics club, and it works with 940 pupils to create academic and sporting opportunities for young people from all backgrounds.
North Edinburgh would not be the same without the Hibernian Community Foundation. With the help of volunteer funds, it runs active school initiatives, football for all sessions and holiday camps for young people. For the 2025-26 season, Hibernian FC has brought back its football for a fiver initiative, which helps to remove barriers for families who want to attend matches.
Other football foundations, such as the Big Hearts Community Trust, have amazing community programmes, such as welcome through football, which supports young refugees to integrate and find jobs. Heart of Midlothian also runs a free lunch club called warm welcome every Wednesday at the 1874 fan bar at Tynecastle, and that is a lifeline to many vulnerable and socially isolated people in the local community.