How Stenhousemuir FC kept the club and the community through the COVID-19 crisis

Stenhousemuir chief executive Jamie Swinney welcomed swapping the ‘new normal’in the community for the old job in football recently. He spoke to sports editor David Oliver about the two elements to the club since Scottish football closed down in March.
Stenhousemuir have been at the heart of a massive and heartening community effort. Picture: Michael Gillen.Stenhousemuir have been at the heart of a massive and heartening community effort. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Stenhousemuir have been at the heart of a massive and heartening community effort. Picture: Michael Gillen.

For a few hours, Jamie Swinney was back to being the chief 
executive of Stenhousemuir FC. Announcing player signings, 
extending contracts – the day job.

But only for a few hours one Friday last month.

Then it was back to the current issue at hand, the huge community effort that the club has orchestrated, organised and mobilised, to see its local area, and all who live in it, through the coronavirus crisis as best they could.

Jamie's background is in football coaching, at grassroots level and at the Forth Valley elite academy. He also helps at the SFA Performance School programme at Graeme High School. Picture: Michael Gillen.Jamie's background is in football coaching, at grassroots level and at the Forth Valley elite academy. He also helps at the SFA Performance School programme at Graeme High School. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Jamie's background is in football coaching, at grassroots level and at the Forth Valley elite academy. He also helps at the SFA Performance School programme at Graeme High School. Picture: Michael Gillen.
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At the heart of it all has been the football club. A medication, meals and shopping delivery service, dog walkers, befriending group, a library. A lifeline in the community. But at it’s core, it’s still a football club, and football clubs need players.

“We were pleased to get back to it. The conversations are different and they’re not quite as straightforward as you’d like them to be,” he explained.

“We had to discuss certain set scenarios in the contracts, which give protection for the player and for the a club, as a business. They took a little longer than usual with added employment law advice too, but we got to an amicable arrangement and a contract, slightly varied from the usual SPFL contract, that reflects the time we’re in.

“Judging by the supporters’ reaction, they’re pleased and looking forward to seeing them in a Stenhousemuir jersey again once we have some sort of football normality.”

Danny Newbigging went from kids coach to delivery driver. Picture: Michael Gillen.Danny Newbigging went from kids coach to delivery driver. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Danny Newbigging went from kids coach to delivery driver. Picture: Michael Gillen.
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That football normality returned with the Warriors signing seven including goalkeeper Graeme Smith and last season’s top scorer, David Hopkirk. Another two followed yesterday (Wednesday) – a far cry from where the club was three and a half months ago when the coronavirus closed down the country, and curtailed the football season.

The Warriors activities since are well documented, and highly commended, but as well as providing a key service in keeping the community connected, and as safe as possible, the operation has also sustained Stenhousemuir FC – which was not a given back in March with the prospect of no income, no games and an uncertain season.

“The football side went onto the backburner, if I’m honest,” the CEO admitted. “Our focus was very much on other aspects of what we do as a football club in the community and that’s just been as much as we can in the local area and the people here.

“We have been trying to safeguard the club, accessing grants and support from government to continue as a business but we’ve just been doing as much as possible in the community.

Jamie Swinney has been Warriors CEO for two years. Picture: Michael Gillen.Jamie Swinney has been Warriors CEO for two years. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Jamie Swinney has been Warriors CEO for two years. Picture: Michael Gillen.
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“The club’s in a reasonably strong position financially and we’ve been able to do that while delivering a huge number of positive outcomes to the community - we’ve achieved everything and more, because the initial period was panic. The difference three and a half months ago and now, I’m proud of what we’ve done, where we’ve come from and where we are – in a pretty strong foundation, that’s really positive and has allowed us to turn the attention to football again.”

Swinney’s role switched from football operations to army general, directing a squad not of players, but of volunteers doing everything and anything they could to help a community coming to terms with the COVID-19 crisis.

“We had so many people involved and mobilised a huge number of individuals to help, people who care and are passionate about their community and we’ve done that while still managing to ensure the club is still here.

“We’ve had to learn, to adapt and it’s been a real journey.I’ve come a long way in these three months, as well as in the past two years with the club.

Davie Irons landed his number one target and retained several of last season's squad. Picture: Michael Gillen.Davie Irons landed his number one target and retained several of last season's squad. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Davie Irons landed his number one target and retained several of last season's squad. Picture: Michael Gillen.
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“We’ve been fortunate that David Reid and Iain McMenemy, the vice chairman and chairman, and Andrew Thomson and Daniel Newbigging the development officers have been hands-on forces and co-ordinating the drivers, the meals and the lunches.

“It’s been a team effort – one of our directors’ wives, Rae McNairney, has been answering the helpline for three and a half months.

“It goes all the way through to Kenny Lang who has connected us with IT, Lisa Duncan in the dressing room library and Davie Smith in the blether together befriending service, we’ve got a real strong team co-ordinating all aspects.

“That’s allowed other work to get us through to where we are now.

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“It’s been an exhausting process, but it’s rewarding. It’s heartening to see people really care and want to help vulnerable people.

“The club could have mothballed, or shut up shop. People could have looked after themselves, but we’ve seen 180 people putting other people first, at a scary and worrying time.

“We’ve managed to keep the club going and the community going.

“We’ve worked hard to get here, but we’ve brought the community with us and given ourselves a chance to be a strong, sustainable football club as well.

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“We’re all missing the football aspect - the first team, the kids programmes - boys and girls teams through to walking football.

“It was nice to get some football business done after all these months.

“At the moment we’ve got a happy management team with the foundations of a squad, a happy board with the work the management team has done so far and a set of fans who are pleased too.

“It’s such a pity we can’t welcome anyone in to the club just now, but we’re looking forward to when we do.”

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