Galbraith backs business backing sport
Friday 16 June 2000
Sponsorship plays a vital role in the survival and development of much of Scottish sport. In 1992 the government introduced SPORTSMATCH as an incentive to encourage more businesses to back amateur sport.
Managed by sportscotland and funded by the Scottish Executive, SPORTSMATCH in partnership with the commercial sector has so far injected a combined additional £5.6 million into a wide variety of community sports projects all over Scotland.
On Friday 16 June, 1730-1830 hours, sportscotland will hold the third of three regional Presentation Evenings to thank the 102 businesses that backed sport through the SPORTSMATCH scheme over the past year.
At this reception, being hosted in BT Scotland, Atlantic Quay, York Street, Glasgow, Sam Galbraith MSP, Minister for Children and Education, will present 34 sponsors and sports groups from West and Central Scotland with commemorative certificates in recognition of their partnership and contribution to sport development over the past year.
Sam Galbraith comments: "Sport offers the commercial sector an effective and creative vehicle for promoting both individual brands and corporate identities. My thanks go to Corporate Scotland for its response to SPORTSMATCH and its ongoing support of Scottish sport."
Also speaking will be Alastair Dempster (former Chief Executive of TSB Bank Scotland and currently Chairman of sportscotland).
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "Sponsoring sport can be a sound financial investment for business and one of our aims at sportscotland is to encourage more businesses to recognise this and enter into mutually beneficial partnerships with sport bodies.
"The SPORTSMATCH scheme, which targets its support at youth and community-level projects, is a key component in helping us achieve this goal and is enabling more scots to get active and enjoy a healthier lifestyle."
Hazel Peplinski, Chair of SPORTSMATCH, said: "Sportsmatch is a brilliant enterprise. It has helped hundreds of new local sports projects get off the ground in Scotland as well as significantly enhancing many already in existence. What these businesses realise is that local sport sponsorship is cost effective. It reaffirms company awareness and more importantly strengthens links with the community.
"This reception, and those already held in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, offers SPORTSMATCH, the Scottish Executive and sportscotland a joint opportunity to say a very big 'thank you' to the awarded businesses for their tremendous support."
"We also hope that these events will inform other businesses of the potentially healthy rewards to be gained by supporting sports groups on a local level."
- SPORTSMATCH matches business sponsorship pound for pound. This doubling of sponsorship fees offers sports organisations additional project income and therefore the potential for greater returns to the sponsor. SPORTSMATCH has an annual budget of £260,000. Applications are received quarterly for awards which range from the minimum £500 to the maximum award £35,000.
- More than two-thirds of the SPORTSMATCH awards distributed throughout Scotland to date have been for sponsorships under £2,000, reflecting the SPORTSMATCH emphasis on encouraging sponsorships at community level.
- The first regional reception was held in Edinburgh (Bank of Scotland HQ on The Mound, Friday 2 June). The second reception was held in Aberdeen (Aberdeenshire Council Offices, Friday 9 June).
- For the third reception in Glasgow a full list of SPORTSMATCH awards made in West and Central Scotland in 1999/2000 follows. A full list of awards made elsewhere in Scotland is available on request.
SPORTSMATCH Awards 1999/2000
West and Central Scotland
(organisation/sponsor)
WESTERN ISLES
Lewis & Harris Sports Council plus Uist & Barra Sports Council / Scottish & Southern Energy
STIRLING
St Modans HSFP Cricket Club / Pollock Stewart & Co Solicitory & Scottish Grass Machinery Ltd
ARGYLL & BUTE
Rhu Raiders Rugby League Club / Fisher Marine Limited
Dalmally Junior & Juvenile Shinty Club / Des McNulty Plumbing and Heating Engineer
EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE
Lenzie Youth Club / Hewden Stuart plc
Strathkelvin Thistle Football Club / MCL Trophies Ltd
NORTH LANARKSHIRE
Monklands Youth Rugby Club / Universal Sports
Dalziel Rugby Club / Dalziel Sports Management Ltd
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
East Kilbride Cricket Club / Garthland Print and Design Ltd
Claremont AFC / Land of Leather
Uddingston Cricket Club / John Jackson & Dick & Ailsa Machinery Ltd
Bankfoot Athletic Football Club / Fair City Leisure (Property)
East Kilbride Girls Club / Land Securities Properties Ltd
East Kilbride Ladies Football Club / Scot-Dansk Pine
Uddingston Ladies Hockey Club / McMillan Hair
South Lanarkshire Council / Land Securities Properties Ltd
CLACKMANNANSHIRE
Clackmannanshire Council / Dalegrange Ltd
SOUTH AYRSHIRE
Coylton Girls Basketball Club / Kyle Hotel
NORTH AYRSHIRE
Kilwinning Rangers Boys & Girls Club / MCL Trophies Ltd
Girdle Toll Boys Club Under 12’s / KK Contracts Ltd
Isle of Arran Junior Rugby Club / Balmichael Visitor Centre
RENFREWSHIRE
Castle Semple Rowing Club / Turnbull and Ward
Gleniffer Thislte Boys Club / Tod & Mitchell Solicitors
Ferguslie Cricket Club / Kelvin Homes Limited
Linwood Trampoline Club / BAA Glasgow
EAST RENFREWSHIRE
Whitecraigs Rugby Football Club / Cabletel Glasgow
Giffnock North Youths Under 12’s / Henderson Warnock Facilities Management
CITY OF GLASGOW
Scottish Federation of Chinese Schools / Uniprint
Glasgow City Council / BT Scotland
Hillhead Ladies Hockey Club / NCS Group Ltd
VARIOUS COUNCILS
Western District Cricket Union / Richard Ellis-St Quintin
NATIONAL
Scottish Badminton Union / Bank of Scotland
Scottish Amateur Swimming Association / Bank of Scotland