21st Nov 2008 - Scottish businesses team up to help the homeless world cup
Media technology company Moviecom.tv and leading office equipment supplier Xltec Solutions have swooped to save Scotland's homeless footballers' dream to retain their World Cup crown.
The squad's dream of competing at this year's tournament in Melbourne, Australia lay in tatters when their original sponsorship deal, which was to get the team to Australia, collapsed.
Now Moviecom.tv and Xltec, both based in Lanarkshire, have stepped in to save the day by pledging £10,000 to cover the team's costs.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual international football tournament that unites teams of people who are homeless or excluded from society. It presents them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their country and hopefully change their lives forever.
The tournament has the support of First Minister Alex Salmond and SPL champions Celtic,and Rangers.
Celtic and Rangers have pledged their support by throwing open the gates of their state-of-the-art training facilities, allowing the squad to use each complex for coaching sessions.
Moviecom.tv have produced an online TV channel for the tournament, www.homelessworldcup.tv, for which it has scripted, edited and filmed trials to fill the places on the Scotland team sheet and interviews with the players. Moviecom.tv will be broadcasting daily updates of the tournament starting from 1st December 2008.
Managing director of Moviecom.tv, Gillian O'Neil said: "After meeting Mel Young, the founder of the Homeless World Cup, I felt compelled to support tournament and the Scotland team. It's a really worthwhile programme which has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people.
"My husband and business partner Kevin was also keen to help. As a former footballer himself, he has a personal interest in the project and felt we should step up our support and pledge the sponsorship money for Scotland as well as produce the channel."
Vincent Moore, MD of Xltec Solutions, which supplies and services office equipment across Scotland, said: "As a former manager of Albion Rovers, like Kevin I have a great interest in football.
"The decision to join up with Kevin and Gillian to provide the sponsorship wasn't a hard one. We are proud to be involved."
David Duke, head coach of the Scotland squad said: "When I approached Moviecom.tv and Xltec for support, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they agreed to help. The sponsorship came just in the nick of time, and we are really grateful."
The 2008 Homeless World Cup takes place in Melbourne from 1-7 December with over 48 nations competing. Scotland won the trophy last year in Copenhagen, following a thrilling 9-3 victory over Poland.
For more information, and to watch the action go to www.homelessworldcup.tv and www.moviecom.tv.
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