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15/2/2007 - THE PROCLAIMERS MARCH ROYAL MILE TO SUPPORT YOUTH SPORT

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A PHOTOGRAPHER OR JOURNALIST TO THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BUILDING AT 2.30pm ON WEDNESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2007

Famous Scottish music act and football fanatics The Proclaimers will head up a march in Edinburgh City Centre on Wednesday 14th February 2007 to flag up the urgent need for investment in Scottish sports facilities.

The musical duo will lead over 2000 children from over 100 sports teams around Edinburgh, as the “Unite the Clubs” march heads up the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament. On arrival, the children will hand over a petition signed by over two thousand people - including Hibs manager John Collins and Setanta presenter Jim Delahunt - calling for immediate council and Scottish Executive action on renovating sports facilities and pitches. The marchers will also be equipped with red heart shaped cards, fitting in with the “Show Racism the Red Card” campaign, as they want to “show the red card” to poor facilities.

Ambitious timetable of activity

The United Clubs Forum – which only formed in November 2006 – is pressing Scottish MPs for action on plans to bring existing sports facilities up to an acceptable standard. The group has created an ambitious timetable of activity which would see all upgrades completed by July 2007.

The plan focuses on achievable targets including gaining modern, clean, hygienic and civilised changing facilities, space to socialise after games, improved quality playing pitches and floodlighting, and access to training facilities throughout the year. The group also asks that any development undertaken is done hand-in-hand with the clubs themselves, so that all changes can be carefully maintained.

Fun for the family - not a political forum

Les Trotter, march organiser, insists that the gathering will be non-political, and that the United Clubs Forum are merely trying to help their children gain better sports facilities. The group has even gone as far as to create a code of conduct for the day, to prevent any political hijacking of the event. He said:

“We don’t want our march to be taken over by politicians. Instead we want to show our colours, show that thousands of youngsters across Scotland are dying to put on their boots and get out on the pitch, but they can’t because facilities are so poor. Many clubs have not seen renovation in sixty years, and they are a health and safety nightmare.

“We are told over and over again that we are sitting on a health time bomb – that our children are not exercising enough and that they are eating the wrong foods. As a parent, and a footballer, and a Hibs fan, I’m calling everyone who loves sport to join us on the march, and show that you want to have fun and get outside and get fit.”

Producing a new generation of sporting heroes

The Proclaimers’ Charlie Reid said:

“We are lifelong Hibs fans and so there was no question about us supporting this campaign. Without the right facilities Scotland will never be the world leader that it should, in football, and other sports like hockey and rugby too.”
Hibs manager John Collins said:

“I support the clubs in their quest to have these facilities upgraded as I believe this will encourage young players to stay in the game longer and therefore reach their full potential.”

Snapz healthy crisps feed hungry marchers

The march has been sponsored by a number of local Edinburgh businesses, including Snapz Crisps who are providing 3000 packets of their healthy apple crisps to the children taking part in the march.

One of the firm’s directors, Findlay Lockie, said:

“We fully support the actions of ‘Unite the Clubs’ and we want to see more young people across Scotland keeping fit and healthy. Diet is an important part of that process and Snapz Crisps are great for giving children energy. Because they have only one per cent fat and no added salt they have also been given government 5-a-day approval.”

Ends
February 2007

Notes to the editor / picture editor
This release sent on behalf of Unite the Clubs and Snapz Crisps. The march will take place from 1.30pm on Wednesday 14th February 2007, starting from Castle Street in Edinburgh and ending at the Scottish Parliament building where the petition will be presented.

For more information about the march or Snapz Crisps please contact Jane Nower on 0141 889 6868 / 07894607584 / jane@axismediagroup.co.uk

For more information about taking part in the march, contact organiser Les Trotter on 07980503214 / lesflotrotter@hotmail.com or Brian Ross on 07857609131 / brian.ross1875@hotmail.co.uk

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