Local grass-roots football clubs are the “heartbeat” of our communities, according to South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth.

Colin Smyth recently took part in a debate in the Scottish Parliament and used the opportunity to highlight some of the amazing work being done for their communities by local football clubs such as Queen of the South and Annan Athletic.

The local MSP said: “Local grass-roots clubs continue to be the heartbeat of our communities, often run by volunteers, who are real local heroes, and our local professional clubs are increasingly going beyond the pitch.

“Tragically, suicide remains the single biggest killer of men under 45.

“Last year, my hame team, Queen of the South, launched the changing room, an innovative mental health project delivered in partnership with SAMH and the SPFL Trust that supports men between 30 and 64 to tackle the social isolation caused by Covid and lockdowns through a 12-week programme.

“Another local team in my region is Annan Athletic, who are the very definition of the community, because they are owned by that local community.

“More than seven years ago, Annan began working with the co-operative Supporters Direct to explore a new ownership model to put the fans at the heart of the club. That culminated in 100 per cent community ownership through a community benefit society.

“They are now putting those community values into action, from backing the fitba first project to hosting the armed forces veterans breakfast club.”

Colin Smyth also raised the recently scrapped controversial plans to change how football supporters’ buses operate in Scotland have been scrapped.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain announced the planned guidelines for what supporters’ buses can do on match days.

He continued: “Bill Shankly was right when he said that football without fans is nothing. However, sometimes, as we have heard in the debate, we would not know that from how fans are often treated.

“Rightly, several members have commented on the traffic commissioners’ recent and now withdrawn proposals on how fans are taken to football matches, which were ill thought out, unworkable and unenforceable.

“Often, that disrespect for our fans can spill over into some of the decisions by football authorities.”