A charity organisation’s plans to run free walking football sessions have been booted into touch by North Lanarkshire Council.
Clyde FC Community Foundation, the official charity of Clyde FC, had publicised that it would be providing the sessions at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, free of charge to people over aged 55.
But that idea fell foul of the council, which has sessions of its own running, and it seems the local authority has blown the whistle on the foundation’s plans.
The programme was due to kick off this Friday but the council has shown the red card saying it won’t allow the facilities to be used for it, as it clashes with its own similar programme.
Tom Elliott, community development manager at the Foundation, said: “I’m really disappointed. We receive funding from the Scottish FA and we’re running free classes for kids during the summer and we’ve linked in with the local primary schools, we also have coaching for girls and a bolt-on to that was for over 50s football for eight weeks free of charge.
“I watch the guys playing walking football at the council-run one on a Tuesday and wanted to run ours on a Friday. We already run one over at Toryglen, as we have a legacy there from Clyde's time at Shawfield.
"The guys who play tend to move about and attend other sessions on other days of the week. I didn’t foresee any problems, we thought it might be an additional session for some of them and equally it might get people involved for the first time. It could be a game changer for those in their fifties and sixties who come along.
“It came as a real shock to be told we couldn’t run the classes.”
Clyde FC was embroiled in controversy recently when the club re-signed striker David Goodwillie, who was judged in a civil case to have raped a woman, which prompted North Lanarkshire Council to ban the player from entering the stadium.
The council also revealed that the football club’s lease agreement for the stadium, which expires in May next year, would not be renewed. Clyde then announced they would play home games next season at Hamilton Accies ground.
John Alexander, chairman of Clyde FC Community Foundation, also voiced his frustration at the council’s decision, saying: “It’s very disappointing to be refused the right to use the facilities when you’re offering the opportunity to individulas who might not be able to afford the cost of the the council’s classes.”
John also believes that a number of those who attended the sessions may well have also attended the council’s sessions after getting a feel for walking football.
“I’ve made that point to them. This is refusing people the opportunity to engage with sport and health and wellbeing. It’s hard enough for people just now. It’s reducing barriers in an attempt to get people to re-engage.
“I’ve no idea what the motivations are for this. A fellow trustee asked me; 'Is this the thin end of the wedge where we start being treated the same as the club?'.
“The foundation does good work locally and our aspiration is to remain working in the Cumbernauld area, the football club might be moving out but the charity is still here.”
North Lanarkshire Council says the issue comes down to the availability of booking slots at the stadium
A spokesperson said: “The first we became aware Clyde Foundation intent to use Broadwood for a Walking football initiative through a promotional post on their social media.
“Our venue team then proactively contacted the foundation to explain that, due to prior bookings, certain booking slots weren’t available on the times detailed in their social media post.
“We are fully committed to working with the charitable foundation and will contact them to discuss this and offer our full support.
“Broadwood is an extremely popular venue, used for a wide variety of activities and by a range of clubs and bookings need to be managed within our overall programme.
“Our sports development team work closely with the Clyde foundation team on a joint mental health programme at Broadwood and would be delighted to look at a partnership programme to add to an already successful walking Football programme at Broadwood Stadium.
“In addition, our Football Development Officer works closely with the Foundation on supporting them with the Foundation on quality mark.
“We will continue to work closely with them on future programming in order to support them with their aims for the local community.”
To find a Walking Football session near you visit: walkingfootballscotland.org
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