Scottish football club ‘Banks’ on Syrian refugees

One of the junior soccer clubs has proven by organizing weekly football matches to help Syrian newcomers settle into Scottish life that Scots have hearts that are big enough to hold refugees.

The Clydebank Football Club, a Scottish junior football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, runs the hour long seven-a-side games that provide an opportunity for players from Syrian families resettled in their area to play against locals and community workers from the council.

The initiative to provide Syrian newcomers to the area a chance to play began after they were invited to watch the Bankies, as club members are called, play against their rivals, Yoker Athletic.

Like many fans from around the world, many Syrians also have a passion for soccer and those who now live in Clydebank are no exception.

About eight or nine Syrian footballers are now playing once a week with local residents and community workers from the West Dunbartonshire Council.

Club director Davie McAleer, 53, said: “The guys feel welcome. They enjoy the football and they are all really friendly.

“Obviously they were facing a difficult situation. They all have different stories but I can only imagine that. We just have a laugh about the game.”

Ten families of Syrian refugees have arrived in Clydebank after being brought into Scotland in the last year.

Area residents, who say they can only imagine the difficult times the new residents have been through before arriving in Scotland, have been helping Syrians adapt to life in their new surroundings by welcoming them at social gatherings organized at local churches and community centers.

“Someone from the council approached us and asked if it was alright if some of the guys came down to see a game,” McAleer told Chris Clements of the Daily Record.

In spite of the language constraints that hinder communication with the newcomers, the love of soccer is a language of its own and a connection was quickly made. 

“We could only have a basic conversation about football because of the language barrier but I said to them, ‘Well, maybe next time we can play.’ It just went from there,” said McAleer.

“It’s been really enjoyable and positive for all of us involved.

“It might only be a game of football but it means so much more than that.”

Club sponsors Clydebank Co-operative also donated to the project.

Chief executive officer Fiona McInnes told Clements: “This program shows the true spirit of Clydebank and the Co-op delighted to have been asked to facilitate.”