Football starlets score major drugs cash sponsorship deal

Published on Wednesday 19 March 2008 09:25

THE Scottish Government today announced it is to sponsor the men's under-21 football team to promote its CashBack for Communities scheme.

The scheme takes cash recovered from criminals and ploughs it into community projects to help make a difference to the lives of young people.

The sponsorship deal will see the CashBack scheme promoted on the national team's training kit and trackside adverts, as well as editorial and advertising in match programmes.

The deal will also include 300 free tickets for each home game, to be used for competitions.

Drinks giant Tennent's has agreed to donate its sponsorship rights for the under-21 team to the CashBack for Communities scheme.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "We want to promote the CashBack for Communities scheme to our young people, and 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 Tennent's, 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."

The sponsorship arrangement will cost around 70,000 but is expected to result in media exposure worth over 165,000. Tennent's head of external affairs Rob Bruce said the firm's decision to donate the sponsorship rights was an example of its commitment to promoting responsible drinking.

National Youth Teams Manager Billy Stark said: "The idea of taking cash back from criminals and using it to benefit the lives of Scotland's young people is fantastic."

The sponsorship will be in place by the time the team plays its next game, against Finland in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, next Wednesday.

Mr MacAskill announced in January that over 2.2 million seized from criminals will provide free football coaching and playing opportunities for over 30,000 young people.