The Spartans - Mair Than A Club

The incredible community impact of Spartans Community Foundation in Edinburgh is celebrated in a new feature.  

The Spartans Community Foundation touches the lives of 2000 people in the North Edinburgh community every week, with participants ranging from the age of three to 103, through 36 different programmes supporting health, wellbeing and inclusion.

The success of the Community Foundation is supported by the growth of its two football teams – with the Spartans men’s team just missing out on automatic promotion in William Hill League 2 this year and the women’s team being crowned ScottishPower Women’s Premier League2 champions this season.

The impact of the community trust’s work in this area is being showcased by the Scottish Professional Football League [SPFL], Scottish Women’s Premier League [SWPL] and charity SPFL Trust as part of the Scottish FA’s Week of Football campaign, celebrating the power of our national sport and shining a light on the inspiring stories from grassroots level to Scotland’s senior national teams.

Debbi McCulloch, Spartans Community Foundation CEO and former Spartans women’s team manager, said: “We engage with around 2000 people per week currently and run 36 programmes annually per year. The Foundation is very proud to be part of this football club and the wider Spartans family.

“The Foundation is obviously bigger in terms of annual turnover and the number of people that we employ and the people that we engage with. Yes, we’re bigger, but we’re certainly not any better [than both teams].

“We have a responsibility to influence systematic change that can hopefully help eradicate poverty. It’s about being able to see someone come in and smile and enjoy the chances they otherwise might not have in life.”

The Spartans men’s manager Douglas Samuel, who earlier this season celebrated 5000 days in charge of the men’s team and was CEO of Spartans Community Foundation for 17 years, has previously received an MBE for his services to football and the local community.

Douglas said: “Is the Foundation bigger than the club? I’d say it’s the heart and the soul of the club and the Spartans family.

“When one part of the family is successful, that can help the other part.

“How do I feel about both organisations? I don’t see them as separate. I see the Spartans family as one family. I think it’s really important we’ve created one large family that looks after each other.”

Midfielder James Craigen, 35, joined the club in summer 2023, and said the community impact is like at no club he’s ever been at, with players regularly supporting with events like Christmas and Easter fairs.

He said: “I’ve been here three years now and the community work at the club is a large reason why I joined.

“The players do a lot of extracurricular work with the community, and the community come and support the players, so it’s a real two-way relationship.

“In terms of the community and connection to the football club, this is leading the line when it comes to Scottish football.

“I’ve been at other clubs when they’ve had that Trust element and Spartans are really good at that aspect.”

Robyn McCafferty, Women’s team captain and Spartans Community Foundation education officer added: “I think sometimes when you hear Spartans, you automatically think of the football club, and you don’t always think of all the work that the Foundation do within the local area and community and the amount of people they help

“They really do change lives in this part of Edinburgh.”

Nicky Reid, SPFL Trust chief executive, said: “Spartans Community Foundation have such an amazing impact in the local community in North Edinburgh, and it’s right that we shine a light on the difference it makes.

“The fact they engage with around 2000 people every single week is truly impressive, and it’s brilliant how they work so closely with both The Spartans men’s team and The Spartans FC Women for the benefit of people in the local area.

“With programmes that support people’s health, wellbeing and inclusion, Spartans Community Foundation is a brilliant example of the impact community trusts are having in communities across the country.”