The SPFL Trust have acknowledged the ‘extraordinary generosity’ of a mystery donor who will plough around £1.3m into Scottish football.
The benefactor was introduced to them by James Anderson and will take the form of two £625,000 payments which will be made available to club community trusts from the Premiership to League Two.
Additional money will go towards launching “Scottish Football United”, a project which aims to “bring together clubs, governing bodies, with national and local public agencies to create a focal point for future crisis planning and support.”
SPFL Trust chief-executive Nicky Reid said: ““When James Anderson said he believed that his donation would be the start of something, he was absolutely true to his word.
“James has brought forward someone else who’s donation and future commitment will make a significant difference to the lives of so many.
“Although I cannot name the donor who has stepped forward to support the SPFL Trust and club associated charities across the country, I want to acknowledge their extraordinary generosity. They have seen the amazing power that our clubs have to support those in need, in Scotland.
“The initial donation will enable us to now launch a £280,000 fund to support club-associated charities, enabling them to continue their important work. Each will be able to apply for £10,000, and like the club fund we will aim to process this as quickly as possible.
“I said two weeks ago that Scottish football has this incredible power to change people’s lives, and the funding we have received (and will receive in future) will help ramp up these efforts. In every way it’s a game changer.
“For example, earlier this week we revealed that at least 17 SPFL clubs will set up testing facilities across the country, using the Club Covid-19 Crisis Fund grant, enabling community access, and in effect creating a football network to support the country’s efforts to move forward, safely. This in itself is the type of principle we want to bring to bear with Scottish Football United .
“I’ve always said that our league in Scotland has the propensity to be the most community engaged league in the world. Never has that moment been closer.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
