The Honest Men Trust - Ayr United Community Initiative

Show Racism the Red Card, Scotland’s campaign against racism in football and society, have once again organised anti-racist action at fixtures this weekend 22nd/23rd October as part of their annual Fortnight of Action, 13-27 October. The action, the second organised in partnership with the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and Bell’s Scottish Football League, will see all 42 clubs unite with player’s holding up red cards before kick-off, tannoy announcements, articles in match programmes, and many extra events at clubs around the country.

The success of the SRTRC campaign in Scotland is attested to by the fact that representatives from several European countries have recently visited Scotland to see what they can learn from the campaign. Tony Higgins, SPFA chief and recently-appointed President of Fifpro’s anti-racism committee, said:“ Supporters’ organisations from ten clubs have organised additional action at games and in communities including SRTRC poster distributions, friendly matches and educational events. As part of the SRTRC Fortnight, Ayr United supporters launched an intensive long-term project last weekend in South Ayrshire, a partnership between ‘The Honest Men Trust’, Unison, T&GWU and South Ayrshire Council: John Dalton of ‘The Honest Men Trust’ said: “The days of monkey chants from the terracing seem to be gone but that doesn’t mean that we in Scotland can be complacent. Racist abuse still emanates from morons at grounds throughout the country and their attitudes have to be challenged so that they can see the error of their ways.”

“Racism is the result of ignorance and it is only through education that we can start to challenge the attitudes of stereotyping and prejudice that racists feed off. No matter our creed, our culture, or the colour of our skin, underneath we’re awe Jock Tamsons’ bairns.”

Several black and minority ethnic sporting organisations have also organised events as part of the SRTRC Fortnight of Action grants scheme, funded as part of the ‘One Scotland’ campaign.

SRTRC also launched a coaching scheme this summer in partnership with Livingston FC aimed at increasing the number of Scottish black and Asian players making the breakthrough at the top level. Grassroots team Glasgow Ansar took part in Livingston FC community youth coaching sessions resulting in one Asian player, Haroon Ahmed, being offered full-time coaching facilities at the club:

Haroon said:“Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC have agreed to launch similar projects in the near future.Roddy McNulty, SRTRC campaign coordinator for Scotland said: “Problems still persist but we are making headway. The support the campaign has received from fans, footballers, clubs and BME organisations has been impressive. So much so that Scotland is now considered to be at the forefront of anti-racism campaigns in Europe.

The 2005 Fortnight of Action provides an ideal platform to call on the Scottish football family to move things to the next stage, creating a genuinely level playing field for people of all races and religions in Scottish football.”