Swinney backs plan to make Scotland a world leader in women's football by 2035
The First Minister announced £250,000 for Project 2035, which will be overseen by a new Girls' and Women's Football Taskforce over the next decade.
Footballs on display at the National Football Museum. A new ten-year plan aims to give every girl in Scotland the chance to play. · Photograph: Hmickey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
More girls will be given the chance to play football under a new long-term plan to make Scotland a leading nation for the women's game.
First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish Government was backing Project 2035 with £250,000 in financial support this year.
What Project 2035 will do
The project is designed to create opportunities for women and girls across the country to take part in football – including as players, as well as in other roles across the game.
A new Girls' and Women's Football Taskforce will oversee delivery of the plan over the next decade, bringing together the Scottish Government and football organisations.
"Every girl who wants to be part of football"
The First Minister said: "Football has the power to bring communities together, improve health and wellbeing, and inspire young people to achieve their potential."
He said Project 2035 was about building on the momentum seen in recent years in women's and girls' football and creating even more opportunities.
"Our ambition is simple: every girl in Scotland who wants to be part of football should have the opportunity to do so," he added.
A growing game
Women's football in Scotland has grown rapidly in recent years. Crowds at SWPL matches and Scotland women's internationals have risen, and more clubs now run girls' teams.
Campaigners have long argued, however, that girls still face barriers to playing – from a lack of access to pitches and changing facilities, to too few female coaches and teams in some areas.
The new taskforce will be expected to tackle those issues as it sets out how Scotland can match the leading nations in the women's game by 2035.