Celtic FC Foundation Expands London Outreach with Girls' Football Initiative
On a rain-soaked pitch in Brixton, south London, players and coaches from Dulwich Village Football Club gathered for a team photo during a tournament hosted by the Celtic FC Foundation. This event marked the launch of a new programme designed to provide girls and young women from underprivileged backgrounds in the local area with opportunities to play football.
Deepening Ties in the Capital
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Celtic FC Foundation to extend its charitable work beyond its traditional heartland in Glasgow. Since beginning operations in London in 2013 to commemorate Celtic's 125th anniversary, the foundation has established several programmes, including Breaking Barriers in Hackney, which helps integrate refugee and asylum-seeking communities through sport.
Vladyslav Kysil, a former professional player from Ukraine who has been coaching for the foundation since 2023, expressed his initial surprise at seeing a Scottish club so active in England's capital. "But when I read the history, I realised they have real heritage in London," he noted, highlighting the club's longstanding connections to the city.
A Legacy of Charity
Celtic was founded in 1887 as a charity by Brother Walfrid, a Marist Brother from Sligo, Ireland, who moved to Glasgow to provide hot meals for Irish immigrants. In 1893, he relocated to London's East End, continuing his work with underprivileged children in areas like Bow and Bethnal Green. In his memory, the foundation has expanded its reach, with programmes now in place in Sligo, several US cities, and London.
Tony Hamilton, chief executive of the Celtic FC Foundation, emphasised that this charitable work is intrinsic to the club's identity. "This is not an exercise for us. This is inherent in who we are and it's in our DNA. It's why the football club was formed: we want to provide meaningful change for people who live in our communities," he stated.
Community Support in Glasgow and Beyond
In Glasgow, the foundation runs numerous long-term schemes, such as supporting young offenders recently released from prison and opening Celtic Park four times a week to offer hot meals to those in need. "They come for a hot meal. There's no registration. There's no questions," Hamilton explained, underscoring the no-strings-attached approach.
Additionally, a fuel bank initiative provides vouchers for electricity and gas, with 75% of the foundation's budget allocated to the Glasgow area. A Christmas appeal donates £400,000 annually to local families, homeless individuals, and refugees, reflecting the club's immigrant origins.
Expanding Global Outreach
Under Hamilton's leadership since 1994, the foundation has broadened its focus to assist other communities globally. It has donated £100,000 to help feed people in Gaza through the United Nations World Food Programme and established programmes in several US states, including Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Hamilton credited the revival of the club's charitable ethos to Fergus McCann, who took over as Celtic's largest shareholder in 1994. "One of the first things that he did was bring it back. Since then it's really kicked on and we don't talk about religion. We don't care who people are – all faiths and none," he said.
Funding and Fan Support
The foundation is primarily funded by Celtic and raises additional money through charity events like golf days and biannual legends matches. It receives minimal public funding compared to English counterparts, relying heavily on the generosity of Celtic supporters worldwide.
"The Celtic supporters have got a really strong social conscience," Hamilton remarked. "A lot of them support what Celtic FC Foundation does and a lot of them do their own thing in their own community. This is about the people who put their hands in their pockets." With 11 supporters' clubs in and around London, the foundation continues to thrive, leveraging the economic advantages of larger cities to fund its vital work.
