Scotland U21s - new sponsorship deal.

[Say What Again]

The U21's are going to be sponsored by the Scottish Government, using money seized from criminals.

 

Scottish Government link

 

Full story:

 

The Scottish Government's ground-breaking initiative to use the proceeds of crime to make a positive difference to young people's lives is to take over sponsorship of the Scotland men's Under 21 football team.

 

Tennents have a long history of promoting responsible drinking in the community and have agreed to donate their sponsorship rights for the Under 21 team to the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities scheme.

 

The sponsorship arrangement will cost around ?70,000 but is expected to result in media exposure worth over ?165,000. The sponsorship will be reviewed annually.

 

The purpose of the deal is to drive awareness of the CashBack for Communities scheme amongst young people and encourage them to take part in the various sports, arts and culture activities that will be part of the scheme.

 

The deal will see the CashBack for Communities scheme promoted on the training kit of the Scotland men's Under 21 team as well as trackside advertising at all home games, editorial and advertising in match programmes and access to the players for CashBack-related media opportunities. The deal will also include 300 free tickets for each under 21 home game, to be used for competitions.

 

Speaking in advance of meeting Billy Stark, Manager of the Under 21 team and members of the Under 21 squad at Hampden, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

 

"We want to promote the CashBack for Communities scheme to our young people. We want to show them that there can be so much more to life than drink, drugs and offending.

 

"That's why I am delighted that Tennents, sponsors of the Scottish National Team, and the Scottish Government have reached agreement over sponsorship of the national Under 21 team.

 

"Scotland's young international footballers are the kind of positive role models that our young people can look up to. This sponsorship arrangement gives us the opportunity to promote our CashBack for Communities scheme to a wider and younger audience and to encourage our youngsters to be all they can be.

 

"To their credit, Tennents have shown a real responsibility to the wider community by promoting the sensible drinking message and giving up their sponsorship rights to the Scotland men's Under 21 team.

 

"This is a great example of how Government and industry working together can achieve tangible and sustainable improvements in our communities.

 

"We want to show our children and young people that there is a better way. CashBack for Communities is the means by which we will do so, making a real difference to the lives of young people throughout Scotland."

 

Tennent's Lager's head of external affairs Rob Bruce said:

 

"We are delighted to be able to offer this great opportunity to the Scottish Government, and we think it's a perfect example of how alcohol sponsorship can and does play an important and responsible role in society.

 

"Like the Government, we are committed to reducing alcohol harm and we believe initiatives like the CashBack for Communities scheme, which will offer alternative activities and messages to Scotland's youngsters in particular, have a vital role in achieving that aim. But as the scheme will focus on youth, as a responsible brewer, we will not be getting more involved than we are now.

 

"Donating the sponsorship rights to the Scotland Under 21 team is just one example of our commitment to promoting responsible drinking and working with Government. We are a key partner in the Government Industry partnership, we have a strict in-house communications code, we are an active member of The Portman Group, and we are always looking at new and innovative ways of using our other sponsorships to hammer home the message of responsible alcohol use."

 

Billy Stark, National Youth Teams Manager said:

 

"This is a great initiative and one which we're proud to be associated with. The idea of taking cash back from criminals and using it to benefit the lives of Scotland's young people is fantastic.

 

"This is exactly what the Scottish game needs - more young people involved at grassroots level - developing their footballing skills, their social skills and their sense of community.

 

"I hope that Scottish youngsters will make the most of the exciting opportunities offered by CashBack - and who knows - maybe that will be the inspiration they need to reach their full potential. Whether that's playing regularly in a league, moving into coaching or even pulling on a Scotland jersey to represent their country at the highest level."

 

The Justice Secretary announced the first strand of the CashBack for Communities scheme on January which will see over ?2.2 million of the proceeds of crime providing free football coaching and playing opportunities for upwards of 30,000 young people throughout Scotland.

 

Then in February he announced that the Government will use ?3 million seized from criminals to fund a grant scheme for youth projects and youth organisations in all 32 local authority areas of Scotland.

 

The Scottish Government has reached agreement with Tennents that the CashBack for Communities scheme should take over sponsorship of the Scotland men's Under 21 football team.

 

The Scotland men's Under 21 team's next game is against Finland. The match, which is part of the UEFA European Under 21 Championship, is next Wednesday 26 March at 5.30 pm at Aberdeen's Pittodrie stadium.