Why Football? Why Buckie Thistle?
In this blog, Louise Nicol explores sports’ and specifically, football’s role in climate action, and why it has has the power to drive forward change.
Recently Louise from Moray CAN and Lesley from REAP, made a visit to Buckie Thistle FC… to start a pilot project that will connect the Club, sustainability and climate action.
Since I started talking about this project, I've been asked the same questions again and again — why football, and why Buckie Thistle?
Well, it started when Buckie Thistle first approached tsiMORAY back in 2022. They needed new floodlights at the stadium and were looking for funding. That’s when I first spoke to Ed Douglas. After trying - unsuccessfully - to find funding they were eligible for, it became clear just how difficult it is for sports clubs, especially those further north in Scotland, to access financial support. I don’t know why. Why should sport be any different from any other community space?
Eventually, Buckie Thistle secured funding through the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund, but it took two attempts. That experience stuck with me, highlighting how sports clubs often struggle to make changes that would benefit both their communities and the environment.
New Floodlights being installed.
For me, football is more than just a game. People support teams in different ways—some never miss a game, some keep an eye on scores but sometimes find watching too nerve-wracking (I fall into this category). Others support a team because it’s their local club, because their mates do, or, like me, because that’s who their dad supported.
Then there are the different types of supporters. Some are lifelong fans, deeply embedded in the club’s history and traditions, passing their love of the game down through generations. Others are casual supporters, attending games when they can, but still feeling that deep connection. Some people are drawn in by the energy of a live match, while others follow from afar, celebrating or commiserating with friends and family. And then there are the social supporters—the ones who go more for the sense of belonging, the post-match chat, and the shared experience rather than just the game itself.
Football gave me some of my best memories with my dad. It was when he let go—he wasn’t just ‘Dad,’ but this emotional, passionate man who could be angry, sad, or so overjoyed he looked like he might burst. Football has a way of bringing people together, whether it's a major league, a minor league, or a kids' school team. For some, going to a game is their only social outing. Football has a real sense of community, and that’s something worth protecting.
Supporters aren’t just fans—they’re a family. Whether you’re standing in the stands at Buckie Thistle or watching a major league game, there’s a bond between fans that goes beyond just supporting a team. It’s about shared moments, collective highs and lows, and being part of something bigger. That connection is what makes football so special, and it’s also what gives it the power to drive change.
This is why I want to help. 77% of surveyed Scots believe that when it comes to climate change, sport should take action. That makes sense, but if clubs struggle to access funding, how can they make meaningful changes? Many clubs are just scraping by. Inverness Caledonian Thistle recently went into administration—just one example of how financially stretched some clubs are.
I attended a Keep Scotland Beautiful webinar on climate change and sport, hoping to find funding ideas. It was inspiring to see what was possible, but one thing stood out—you need supporters on board for real change to happen. That’s no easy task!
Not long after, I ran into Stephen Shand from Buckie Thistle FC at Meet the Funders. I floated an idea, and he was completely on board—almost as excited as I was. I’m pretty sure his focus is on saving the club money and making it more sustainable, and that’s fine. Change is change, and if they learn more about climate action along the way, even better!
Stephen & Louise talking about how Buckie Thistle can become more sustainable and engage more folk in climate action.
Buckie Thistle is our pilot. We’ll learn as we go and take those lessons to other clubs. Will it be plain sailing? Absolutely not. Will it be challenging? Oh, hell yes!
I was out listening to live music the other night, and someone requested a song. The singer actually had to ask permission to play it, because it’s associated with a football team and could cause fights. Football can be divisive—but it can also bring people together. That’s what we’re aiming for.
So, what’s the plan? Our game plan, if you like:
Take stock. What’s already in place that supports climate action? Some things, like the LED lights, were installed to save money, but they also help reduce emissions.
Climate training. Give the club some knowledge—why are more games being impacted by extreme weather? What can they do about it?
Find funding. While we work on the above, we’ll also be looking for financial support to help the club implement further changes.
Engage the community. Talk to schools and groups about what we’re doing. Like it or not, football players have a huge influence on young people. They have a responsibility to use that for something positive.
We’ve all seen what happens when opposing fans clash—like an Old Firm game, with all the negativity (and sometimes violence) that comes with it. But put those same supporters in Scotland shirts, and suddenly, they’re the friendliest, most welcoming fans in any tournament.
I’m hoping that, one day, climate action will be our Scotland shirt. That it will bring people together, not divide them. And that together, we can make real change.