Latest news with #MikeMulraney
The National
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
SFA looking to 'pitch in' for improved disabled facilities
The Scottish FA can often be a convenient punching bag for the ills in our game, but when it comes to facilities for supporters, the governing body seems determined to show that they are serious about dragging Scottish football into a brighter future. SFA president Mike Mulraney has spoken in the past of his desire that an improvement in facilities across the board, not only for disabled fans, will be his legacy. And much of the responsibility for ensuring the money gets to where it needs to go falls on the SFA's chief operating officer, Rucelle Soutar. Soutar, who is also a trustee of the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, is hopeful that clubs who wish to improve the offering to their disabled fans will seek out the financial help that is available for them to do so. 'The SFP Trust are a partner of Pitching In – a campaign designed to raise £50m for facilities and infrastructural improvements at all levels of the game,' Soutar said. 'President Mike Mulraney has made this area the number one priority for the association to help offset a significant facilities shortfall. 'It will support clubs seeking to put down new 3G pitches, upgrade existing facilities and also to improve infrastructure such as accessibility and making changing rooms more accessible for girls and women and Para footballers. (Image: Scottish FA) 'All member clubs have to do is visit and hit the contact button on the home page.' And Soutar can point to the evidence. The SFP Trust provided vital funding to the building of a disabled platform at St Mirren's SMiSA Stadium, while she was involved in the delivery of the new raised platform in Hampden's North Stand. Both projects were the result of collaboration not only between those bodies, but with the fans who would stand to benefit from their completion. 'It is important football is accessible to all and that is why we have invested significantly in the recent upgrades to the disabled seating deck,' she said. 'This followed the successful installation of a temporary disability seating deck for UEFA EURO 2020 and was part of a wider stadium improvement plan following the Scottish FA's purchase of the stadium in 2018. Read more: 'This was a six-figure capital investment designed to enhance the experience for disabled fans. During the process we consulted with key groups who provided invaluable insight on behalf of the disabled community. 'The Scottish FA was the first national association to welcome a Para NA [National Association] to the football family, and we consulted with them as well as members of our Scotland Supporters Club to ensure the improvements were practical but also informed. 'We were determined that the upgrades helped create a memorable experience for supporters, not just from the viewing platform but the accessible access points throughout the stadium. 'The feedback has been positive, but this is largely due to the collaboration and input from the outset.' While some fans have been delighted with the new seating deck, Soutar says that a similar project in the South Stand may not actually be what disabled supporters desire, with others instead being happy to have the option of remaining a bit closer to the action. 'We have received feedback from supporters who love those seats, they're pitch-side, and the closest fans to the players in the whole stadium,' she said. (Image: SNS Group) 'The stadium benefits from being able to offer fans in wheelchairs a range of options, the same as any other fan would have, about where they want to sit. 'Fans with accessibility requests have a choice of experience, which we've received really positive feedback on.' That's not to say that Soutar is resting on her laurels when it comes to improving the national stadium, with the fact that Hampden is now fully under the SFA's ownership bringing with it both the opportunity and the responsibility to invest in improving the famous old bowl. 'It's important to stress that Hampden Park's last significant redevelopment took place in 1997, and now that the national stadium is under the ownership of the Scottish FA, we must take all possible steps to ensure the matchday experience is safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all fans, particularly those who have additional support needs,' she said. 'As the stadium's last redevelopment was almost 30 years ago, we have an ongoing maintenance plan to ensure we keep step with supporter needs and expectations, while realising that new stadium build costs of Hampden Park's size and scale are now routinely in excess of £1bn. 'We will continue to engage with partners to enhance the experience in line with tournament regulations but also in line with supporters' expectations.'
The Herald Scotland
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
SFA looking to 'pitch in' for improved disabled facilities
The Scottish FA can often be a convenient punching bag for the ills in our game, but when it comes to facilities for supporters, the governing body seems determined to show that they are serious about dragging Scottish football into a brighter future. SFA president Mike Mulraney has spoken in the past of his desire that an improvement in facilities across the board, not only for disabled fans, will be his legacy. And much of the responsibility for ensuring the money gets to where it needs to go falls on the SFA's chief operating officer, Rucelle Soutar. Soutar, who is also a trustee of the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, is hopeful that clubs who wish to improve the offering to their disabled fans will seek out the financial help that is available for them to do so. 'The SFP Trust are a partner of Pitching In – a campaign designed to raise £50m for facilities and infrastructural improvements at all levels of the game,' Soutar said. 'President Mike Mulraney has made this area the number one priority for the association to help offset a significant facilities shortfall. 'It will support clubs seeking to put down new 3G pitches, upgrade existing facilities and also to improve infrastructure such as accessibility and making changing rooms more accessible for girls and women and Para footballers. (Image: Scottish FA) 'All member clubs have to do is visit and hit the contact button on the home page.' And Soutar can point to the evidence. The SFP Trust provided vital funding to the building of a disabled platform at St Mirren's SMiSA Stadium, while she was involved in the delivery of the new raised platform in Hampden's North Stand. Both projects were the result of collaboration not only between those bodies, but with the fans who would stand to benefit from their completion. 'It is important football is accessible to all and that is why we have invested significantly in the recent upgrades to the disabled seating deck,' she said. 'This followed the successful installation of a temporary disability seating deck for UEFA EURO 2020 and was part of a wider stadium improvement plan following the Scottish FA's purchase of the stadium in 2018. Read more: 'This was a six-figure capital investment designed to enhance the experience for disabled fans. During the process we consulted with key groups who provided invaluable insight on behalf of the disabled community. 'The Scottish FA was the first national association to welcome a Para NA [National Association] to the football family, and we consulted with them as well as members of our Scotland Supporters Club to ensure the improvements were practical but also informed. 'We were determined that the upgrades helped create a memorable experience for supporters, not just from the viewing platform but the accessible access points throughout the stadium. 'The feedback has been positive, but this is largely due to the collaboration and input from the outset.' While some fans have been delighted with the new seating deck, Soutar says that a similar project in the South Stand may not actually be what disabled supporters desire, with others instead being happy to have the option of remaining a bit closer to the action. 'We have received feedback from supporters who love those seats, they're pitch-side, and the closest fans to the players in the whole stadium,' she said. (Image: SNS Group) 'The stadium benefits from being able to offer fans in wheelchairs a range of options, the same as any other fan would have, about where they want to sit. 'Fans with accessibility requests have a choice of experience, which we've received really positive feedback on.' That's not to say that Soutar is resting on her laurels when it comes to improving the national stadium, with the fact that Hampden is now fully under the SFA's ownership bringing with it both the opportunity and the responsibility to invest in improving the famous old bowl. 'It's important to stress that Hampden Park's last significant redevelopment took place in 1997, and now that the national stadium is under the ownership of the Scottish FA, we must take all possible steps to ensure the matchday experience is safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all fans, particularly those who have additional support needs,' she said. 'As the stadium's last redevelopment was almost 30 years ago, we have an ongoing maintenance plan to ensure we keep step with supporter needs and expectations, while realising that new stadium build costs of Hampden Park's size and scale are now routinely in excess of £1bn. 'We will continue to engage with partners to enhance the experience in line with tournament regulations but also in line with supporters' expectations.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rangers will never suffer Crystal Palace UEFA sweat as SFA chief makes dual ownership rules clear
Mike Mulraney insists the SFA would never allow dual ownership where it could cost clubs a place in Europe. Co-Leeds United investor, the 49ers group, has just bought a minority share in Rangers, similar to Brighton owner Tony Bloom at Hearts and Bournemouth's holding company Black Knight who have put money into Hibs. Advertisement SFA chiefs have given these deals the green light but only because they are minority investments in the Scottish clubs. READ MORE: Kevin Thelwell gets ruthless with Rangers stars as sporting director sees no limit to Ibrox exits READ MORE: Scoring on my Rangers debut felt like a dream but it's a current Celtic hero who has really helped kickstart my career English FA Cup winners Crystal Palace are sweating on their European inclusion for next season because they also have control of French side Lyon. Mulraney said: 'We make sure if ever there is a contention about a dual-ownership model whereby the Scottish club would be seen as subordinate, that cannot be. You can't get investment rights unless you agree the Scottish club is never subordinate. Scottish FA president Mike Mulraney 'In the event UEFA said, 'these two clubs can't play in the same competition, we've changed the rules', nobody really thought about it. The SFA ensures that the Scottish club is never subordinate.' Advertisement Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scotland's first safe consumption room is a vital step, but far from the finish line
The opening of the first safe consumption room in the UK took years of legal wrangling and political pressure. It required a sea change in attitudes from police and prosecutors over how to respond to the drugs deaths crisis which has shamed Scotland for too many years. When The Thistle finally opened in January, it was still a hugely controversial move opposed in some political circles. It's aims are simple - to stop drug users from sharing needles and injecting in unhygienic environments, while at the same time being offered advice on how to access long-term rehab. Some may now question whether its been a success given that drugs deaths rose by a third in the first three months of a year. That means around 100 Scots are dying from substance abuse every month. But the opening of one safe consumption room in one city was never going to solve in 12 weeks what remains a nationwide public health emergency. We need more facilities like The Thistle, as part of a broader increase in access to rehabilitation services, if the number of deaths from drugs is to start falling year-on-year. Politicians like Alex Cole-Hamilton are right to call Scotland's drugs deaths crisis a national tragedy. The fact is there will be countless examples of people who could have turned their lives away from addiction if they had been able to access treatment when they most needed it. The battle to save lives from drugs continues to rage, we must ensure it is won. The Scottish Government must do more than talk a good game and provide the resources needed to reverse this grim tide. Ban footy yobs A small minority of football fans in Scotland feel they can behave any way they like at a match. Whether through acts of violence or irresponsible use of pyrotechnics, they seem act without regard to others. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. No wonder then that SFA chairman Mike Mulraney has called for a crackdown on yobbish behaviour. In today's Record he talks of 'no jeopardy' for those who step out of line and you can sense his frustration. Football banning orders exist to hammer the sort of behaviour Mulraney is talking about. But only five were issued last season despite the widespread use of pyros and high-profile incidents of disorder. If football matches are to be safe spaces for all fans, then the few who step out of line have to know there are consequences.
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Rangers will never suffer Crystal Palace UEFA sweat as SFA chief makes dual ownership rules clear
Mike Mulraney explains that Ibrox takeover as well as Hearta and Hibs deal meet key criteria set by Hampden beaks Mike Mulraney insists the SFA would never allow dual ownership where it could cost clubs a place in Europe. Co-Leeds United investor, the 49ers group, has just bought a minority share in Rangers, similar to Brighton owner Tony Bloom at Hearts and Bournemouth's holding company Black Knight who have put money into Hibs. SFA chiefs have given these deals the green light but only because they are minority investments in the Scottish clubs. English FA Cup winners Crystal Palace are sweating on their European inclusion for next season because they also have control of French side Lyon. Mulraney said: 'We make sure if ever there is a contention about a dual-ownership model whereby the Scottish club would be seen as subordinate, that cannot be. You can't get investment rights unless you agree the Scottish club is never subordinate. 'In the event UEFA said, 'these two clubs can't play in the same competition, we've changed the rules', nobody really thought about it. The SFA ensures that the Scottish club is never subordinate.'
