James Dornan
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Anyone who has been to see it will understand the changes that they have made to the pitches, the surrounding area and the whole of Castlemilk. There are now more than 1,000 people training or playing on the pitches every week. The team created a brand-new Castlemilk community football club, with walking football for the over-50s.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗
“Due to time factors today, I cannot go into everything else that the club does. I am sure that he will not like me saying so, but John and the others who run the Barlia pitches are true community heroes.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗
“However, I am even prouder of the fact that I, and my office, have helped hundreds upon hundreds of individuals and families and, with the assistance of some of the finest organisations in the country, have been able to reach out to those who are most disadvantaged. I will briefly mention two charities.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗
“I will come on to how one club in my constituency, through hard work and determination, along with the buy-in of the local community, helped to change the lives of hundreds of young kids, both male and female, through the power of sport. The other thing that sport gives you is confidence.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗
“In Castlemilk, we have a facility that had been left to rot, having been run down over a number of years by the previous operators. When Covid came along, the place was shut down, with the goalposts chained away and the gates locked, apparently never to be reopened.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗
“I thank Brian Whittle for giving me the opportunity to give my final speech in this august place on a subject that is very close to my heart. I was involved in amateur and juvenile football for many years, first as a very mediocre player and then as a more successful coach and manager, and I enjoyed almost every minute of it.”
Scottish Parliament24 March 2026Source ↗