Covid shows football at its best – Ian Murray MP

Scotland’s football clubs showed their community spirt during lockdown and that should inform the recovery of our national game, writes Ian Murray MP.

All football clubs have 'big hearts', says Ian Murray, not just his own team

I have written a number of times about the wonderful community spirit that has been shown by many individuals, organisations and groups in response to the Covid-19 crisis. It is one of the rare silver linings.

And as the easing of lockdown begins to return us to some sort of normality, it gives us an opportunity to say a very big thank you and reflect on the last few months. I hope the community spirit continues, and there is one type of organisation that has played a huge role in this which deserves mention: our beloved football clubs.

Even when matches are on hold, there are few examples of an organisation which can bring people together like our football clubs do, whether they be amateur or professional, for the kids to play or for senior trophies to be won.

I have never hidden my footballing allegiance, but it doesn’t matter if you bleed maroon, green or any other colour, the way that clubs assist their local communities has been extraordinary.

Bill Shankley’s well-used quote, “some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that”, is relevant in today’s Covid context because our clubs and the supporters who loyally follow them have really stepped up to contribute to the effort to help others during this crisis away from the pitch.

I guess that is why the #MoreThan JustAGame project has really taken off. It is an initiative to celebrate the positive work of football fans and clubs during the Covid crisis.

Whether it’s the donation of tonnes of food to local food banks, the distribution and making of meals for those most in need, shopping trips for those that can’t get out, providing advice lines or just someone to talk to, supporting other local groups with personnel and money, or diverting resources to their charitable partners, it has been a truly wonderful effort.

At the same time, fans have been contributing to keeping their clubs alive by donating a total of over £1m. And you can see why. Football clubs make a significant contribution to public life by having a unique ability to bring people together under the club’s banner. And that is why we should nurture our national sport.

A recent survey from the Scottish Football Supporters Association found that 87 per cent believe that listening to the fans would make our game better and 84 per cent feel they have no say and are alienated by how things are run. Those are astonishing figures from the lifeblood of our game. Sport is diminished without fans; football is nothing without them.

That is why, post-Covid, the recovery of our game should be centred around the very people who have pulled together to help our communities during this crisis – the fans – and why I am calling for a government-led review into how our game is run and supported.

This should range from the very grassroots clubs like the wonderful Edinburgh South FC in my constituency to the Scottish national team (and how we have drooled at the lockdown TV replays of Scotland playing at World Cups and European Championships, regardless of the results). Our game and the supporters deserve nothing less.

The Hearts FC charitable arm is called ‘Big Hearts’ but the contribution supporters have made to the collective effort shows all clubs have big hearts. Whether it’s supporters of Dunfermline, Raith, Livingston, Hibs, Edinburgh City, Spartans or Hearts, from the north of Scotland to the very south-western tip of England, fans and clubs have come together to help our communities. Thank you.

This crisis has shown that 90 minutes on the pitch once a week is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to football clubs’ pivotal role in our communities. It is truly more than just a game.

Ian Murray is the Labour MP for Edinburgh South

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