Hearts benefactor James Anderson in generous £250k donation to Scottish Women's Football

It is the single biggest investment in the women’s game in Scotland
James Anderson has donated a huge sum to women's football. Picture: SNSJames Anderson has donated a huge sum to women's football. Picture: SNS
James Anderson has donated a huge sum to women's football. Picture: SNS

James Anderson, the philanthropist who is a benefactor for Hearts, has shown his generosity by handing over £250,000 to Scottish Women’s Football.

It is the single biggest investment in SWF and for the women’s domestic game in Scotland.

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Last week it was announced that Anderson had donated more than £3million to the SPFL Trust which allows each of the 42 member clubs to apply for a £50,000 grant to support the club and the work they do in the communities.

The donation, made via the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, to the women’s game will ensure it continues to make progress and it could rise to £312,500 following the processing of Gift Aid with 100 per cent going to support SWF and the member clubs.

Anderson said: “Football for girls and women in Scotland continues to make incredible progress across every level and this has really inspired me to support SWF through this partnership approach with The SFP Trust. Football is at the heart of communities across Scotland and the women’s game is a key part of this.”

In the first phase of funding, money will be distributed to SWPL 1 and SWPL 2 clubs as well as SWF to sustain non-playing staff and key club infrastructure. Donations will filter down to other SWF member clubs, including those at grassroots level.

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Vivienne MacLaren, chair of Scottish Women’s Football, said: “This support will help provide an incredibly powerful message to all girls and women in Scotland that their sport matters and has not been forgotten in the midst of this pandemic. We are very grateful to James Anderson for recognising this. We are delighted that we are able to deliver this funding via the SFP Trust and thank them for their support.

“As well as the loss of revenues, the inability to play also results in an increasing invisibility of the sport which has grown significantly in recent years, with the Women’s World Cup in 2019 a particular catalyst for improving perceptions and visibility.

“This is the single biggest investment in SWF and our domestic game, which will undoubtedly be a huge support for our clubs through these unprecedented times and help to maintain the momentum we have built up in recent years.

“We are thrilled Mr Anderson fully supports our vision for the growth of our game and our conversations were hugely encouraging particularly as he has intimated a desire to develop a longer-term relationship which could be potentially transformational for our clubs and domestic competitions in the future.”

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James Clydesdale, chair of the SFP Trust, added: “Women’s football faces extra challenges as its league season was stopped in its tracks almost as soon as it was under way and with it, normal sources of revenues. The grant will be used to fund the sustainability of the women’s game to help the return to training and play and bolster the organisational set up.”

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