Questions and Answers about our relationship with Falkirk Football Club
Following Falkirk Football Club’s announcement that it will no longer recognise Falkirk Foundation as its official charitable partner, we believe it is important to clarify a number of issues and to correct information that we consider inaccurate or misleading.
Falkirk Foundation is immensely proud of its longstanding relationship with the Club and its supporters. Over many years, that relationship has delivered substantial benefits to both organisations and, most importantly, to the wider Falkirk community.
It is important to recognise that this has never been a one-way relationship. The Foundation has contributed in excess of £2 million in funding, facilities, assets and payments benefiting Falkirk Football Club over the years. This includes investment in the Community Pitch, funding the development of the mezzanine level of the Kevin McAllister Stand, provision of town centre facilities at Woodlands, and substantial payments for rent, pitch use and the use of the Club’s brand.
Alongside these financial contributions, the Foundation has played a significant role in strengthening the Club’s relationship with its community. Through football, education, health, employability and inclusion programmes, we have engaged thousands of children, young people, adults and families, many of whom have developed a lasting connection with Falkirk FC through their involvement with the Foundation.
Today, more than 6,000 people benefit from our programmes each year, with around 1,500 participating every week. Our work has helped extend the reach of the Falkirk name well beyond the football pitch and into schools, families and communities across the area.
We are therefore deeply disappointed that the Club’s Board has chosen to end its official relationship with the Foundation, particularly when we believe some of the explanations presented publicly do not provide a complete or accurate picture of that relationship.
We want to be absolutely clear: our disagreements are with decisions taken by the Club’s Board, not with Falkirk Football Club or its supporters. We remain proud of our shared history and sincerely hope that a positive relationship can be restored.
As an independent Scottish charity, however, the Foundation has legal responsibilities to protect its assets, independence and beneficiaries. Those responsibilities must guide our decisions.
The following questions and answers explain our position on the principal issues that have been raised publicly.
Our priority remains unchanged: protecting the Foundation and continuing to improve the lives of thousands of people across Falkirk.
1. Why has the relationship between Falkirk FC and the Foundation broken down?
Over recent years, disagreements have arisen concerning the Foundation’s independence, access to facilities, the use of the Club’s branding and the development of our planned Community Hub.
The Foundation has repeatedly attempted to resolve these issues privately and constructively, making significant compromises in an effort to reach agreement.
However, Falkirk Foundation is an independent Scottish charity. Our trustees have legal responsibilities to protect its independence, assets and beneficiaries. Those responsibilities cannot be compromised.
We believe a strong Football Club and a strong charitable Foundation should be working together for the benefit of Falkirk.
2. What is the Hope Street Community Hub, and why is it so important?
The Hope Street Hub is a major community development intended to provide opportunities in education, employability, health, wellbeing and social inclusion.
It will be a place where young people can develop skills and confidence, families can access support, and people experiencing isolation or disadvantage can find opportunities to participate in community life.
The project has secured planning permission, building approvals and significant external funding, including £720,000 reported as secured towards its development.
This is not a commercial development. It is an investment in the future of the Falkirk community.
3. Is it true that the Hope Street Hub would prevent Falkirk FC from implementing its plans to build a fourth stand at Falkirk Stadium?
There is no evidence that the development of the Hope Street Hub would prevent Falkirk Football Club from building a fourth stand in the future.
The Hope Street Hub has secured planning permission, building approvals and substantial external funding. It has been developed through the appropriate planning processes, with the aim of creating a much-needed facility for education, employability, health and community wellbeing. As a modular building, it can easily be relocated should there be a new development plan for the site.
We recognise and support the Club’s ambitions to develop Falkirk Stadium. However, the possibility of a fourth stand at some point in the future should not, in itself, prevent an approved and funded community development from proceeding today.
We believe that the people of Falkirk deserve both.
3. Is Falkirk Football Club preventing the Community Hub from proceeding?
The Hub requires a connection to existing drainage infrastructure at Falkirk Stadium. Despite requests from the Foundation, the Club’s Board has so far declined permission for that connection.
Without an agreed drainage solution, the project cannot proceed as planned, placing the development and its external funding at risk. We believe this is particularly disappointing given the considerable community benefits the Hub will provide.
We remain willing to work with the Club, Falkirk Council and our funding partners to find a solution.
4. Why did the Club stop Foundation teams wearing Falkirk FC’s strip?
For many years, hundreds of children, young people and adults participating in Foundation teams proudly wore the Falkirk FC first-team strip and crest. The Club’s Board withdrew permission for this longstanding arrangement to continue.
We were deeply disappointed by that decision, particularly because of its impact on community players who identify strongly with Falkirk FC.
Rather than allow this to disrupt their football, we introduced a new Falkirk Foundation strip, which our teams now wear with pride.
5. Why has the Club challenged the Foundation’s logo?
The Club has raised objections to the Foundation’s logo, despite it having been used openly for many years. Indeed, Falkirk FC has itself previously used the Foundation’s logo on its own website and in presentations, recognising the longstanding relationship between the organisations.
We therefore find it disappointing that a logo which has been familiar to the Club, supporters and community for so long has now become a matter of dispute.
The Foundation has its own identity as an independent charity and will address any formal questions about its logo through the appropriate channels.
6. Is the Foundation trying to distance itself from Falkirk Football Club?
Absolutely not. Many of our trustees, staff, volunteers, coaches and participants are passionate Falkirk supporters and season ticket holders.
We are proud of our history with the Club and the important role its identity has played in helping us engage with the community. However, the Foundation is an independent charity, not a department of Falkirk FC. Its trustees must make decisions in the best interests of its beneficiaries.
Protecting that independence is not being anti-Falkirk FC. It is responsible charity governance.
7. What does the Foundation actually do for Falkirk?
Every year, more than 6,000 people benefit from Falkirk Foundation programmes, with around 1,500 people participating every week.
We support approximately 650 players across 42 community football teams, alongside programmes in education, employability, mental and physical health, disability inclusion and family support.
Our work helps children develop confidence, supports young people into education and employment, brings isolated people together and provides opportunities for those facing disadvantage.
We are immensely proud of this work and of the staff, volunteers, partners and supporters who make it possible.
Whatever happens in our relationship with the Club, our determination to serve the Falkirk community will not change.
8. Can the relationship between the Club and Foundation be repaired?
We sincerely hope so.
We understand the frustration of supporters who want both organisations to work together. We share that ambition.
We have consistently sought constructive dialogue and remain open to finding a positive way forward, provided the independence and responsibilities of the Foundation are respected.
We believe Falkirk FC and Falkirk Foundation can achieve much more for the community together than apart.
9. What happens next?
Our immediate priority is to protect our existing community programmes and find a solution that allows the Hope Street Hub to proceed.
We will continue to work with our funders, community partners and supporters to deliver the services that thousands of local people value and depend upon.
We would welcome a renewed and respectful relationship with Falkirk Football Club.
But our charitable purpose, our independence and our commitment to the people of Falkirk will remain at the heart of every decision we make.
A final message to Falkirk supporters
Falkirk Foundation has always believed in the power of football to change lives.
We see that every day in the child who finds confidence through being part of a team, the young person who gains qualifications and employment, the family receiving support and the older person who finds friendship and companionship.
These are not abstract charitable objectives. They are real people, real families and real lives across Falkirk.
We are proud of our association with Falkirk Football Club and will always want the Club to succeed. We hope that, in time, the two organisations can rebuild a relationship based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to our community.
Football clubs are about more than what happens on the pitch. Communities are about more than what happens in a boardroom.
Boards and relationships can change. Our commitment to Falkirk never will.
