The Young Team

June saw the wrapping up of our ‘Us & Them’ programme with young people enjoying two behind the scenes visits at St Mirren FC.

‘Us & Them’ helps young football fans navigate the passion, pantomime and poison surrounding the sport in Scotland. It explores football rivalry and considers the consequences of sectarianism and other forms of discriminatory behaviour.  It is delivered with the support of schools and a range of guests from the world of football including ex-professional player and manager Kevin Harper and writer Daniel Gray.

Teenage fans from Gleniffer High School in Paisley and Selkirk High School in the Scottish Borders worked with the charity over the past few months on a range of sessions that saw them explore how football provides people with a sense of community and identity, heard from campaigners on how discrimination manifests itself in football and had the chance to record their own podcast on the things they love about sport.

The trips to St Mirren were organised by Street Stuff, a partnership between Renfrewshire Council and the football club that provides opportunities, activities and support for vulnerable young people across Paisley. These trips allow the groups to see what makes a football club tick behind the scenes as well as learning more about how clubs try to strike the right balance between passion for the club and safety for all spectators.

The project was funded by the Nairn Family Trust and who have kindly agreed to fund two further years allowing more schools to become involved with the addition of a new module which will see participants have a chance to gain work experience linked to football.

Us & Them kicks off again in August 2026 in Greenock and if your school is interested in becoming involved please contact Dave Scott at mail@nilbymouth.org