Jim Leishman promising a 'sporting revolution' if elected as a Fife Labour councillor
Dunfermline football legend Jim Leishman is set to lead Fife's ''sporting revolution'' for Labour.
Gordon Brown, Jim Leishman and Henry McLeish at the sport-themed announcement.
- By Leeza Clark
- Published in the Courier : 14.02.12
- Published online : 14.02.12 @ 03.10pm
Announcing his foray into the world of politics on Monday, Dunfermline Athletic's director of football's goal now will be to win a seat in the Dunfermline Central ward for the party.
In the surprise signing of the season, political heavyweights — former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former First Minister Henry McLeish — backed his candidature and welcomed the football figure as Fife Labour's sports champion.
In addition to being one of two Labour candidates in the ward, Mr Leishman — whose move was backed by Pars chairman John Yorkston — will also be tasked with looking at ways of improving the health and fitness of Fife's younger generation and the kingdom's sports and leisure facilities.
Mr Brown, an ardent Raith Rovers fan, hailed the news as a great day for Fife, sport and young people.
''Sport is the best anti-poverty, anti-deprivation, anti-crime, pro-discipline policy that many of us can contemplate for the future of Fife,'' the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP said. ''I am so pleased Jim, Fife's best-known sportsman, has agreed to be a candidate and could lead the sporting revolution in Fife.''
Mr Leishman went from schoolboy footballer to a professional whose career was cut short by injury, then a successful manager and now director, philanthropist and ambassador.
''There is no better person to represent our communities in Fife, speak up for young people in Fife and improve sports in Fife than Jim, one of the great public servants of our time,'' added Mr Brown.
Admitting to being ''a wee bit nervous'' about a political arena rather than a sporting one, Mr Leishman said he wanted to help youngsters because of his background.
When he was growing up in Lochgelly, his family did not have much money — he only got his first pair of football boots when he was 12 — but did have a lot of ''love and care and attention''.
''That is what I am hoping to pass on — to care about the community and our kids.''
Football had given him not only opportunities, but lifelong friendships and confidence and that was something he was keen to ensure children had today.
''We might not get a Jim Baxter but as long as they can be the best they can be, and enjoy it that is what I want to do, and it isn't only about football — it is about all sports.
''Every child in Fife should have more chance to take part in sports at school and every teenager in Fife should have better opportunities to use our sports facilities.
''I want to begin a sporting revolution that will give our young people better chances, deal with social problems, help our young people feel part of communities and build on Fife's great sporting tradition.
''We need to put our sports facilities to better use and get every school involved in our sporting revolution.''
Continued...
07.07pm - 14.02.2012 Callum - Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom Report This
Nice to see Gordon actually visiting his consti-...oh wait, Dunfermline ISN'T his constituency. Why doesn't he stop posing for photos and actually hold a surgery for a change?
08.17pm - 14.02.2012 Bob Crichton - Panissieres, France Report This
Mr Leishman, life and living is not about football. It's about REAL people. If you think politics, even local, is about football don't even think about standing for election!!!
01.17pm - 15.02.2012 faither - Dundee, UK Report This
This sums up the poverty of Labiur's udeas in Scotland. They have shamefully ignored the need for sport facilities especially for young people for decades and now trot out a sort of "personality" to suggest they actually care! Nothing against JL personally but hey, come on!
07.21am - 16.02.2012 Tom D. - Fife, Scotland Report This
Callum, it's a bit rich moaning about Brown not holding surgeries when our fm is away gallavanting to Liverpool making speeches on the eve of unemployment figures saying another 16,000 have lost their jobs.
07.31am - 16.02.2012 Jeff - Kingdom of Fife, Scotland Report This
A stroke of genius by Sclttish Labour. Jim Leishman is highly regarded and would make an excellent representative for Dunfermline.
04.40pm - 16.02.2012 Callum - Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom Report This
Tom, that annoys me equally! But Gordon has not done anything for the people of Kirkcaldy since elected, and if possible has been WORSE since being out of Government!
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