More than 30,000 young people across Scotland will benefit from a new initiative, launched on Friday at the Powerleague Sighthill, to funnel criminal cash into free football coaching.
The initiative builds on the existing Bank of Scotland 'Midnightleagues' and Bank of Scotland 'Soccer One' initiatives.
Midnightleagues is a 5-a-side community football development initiative, set up to offer boys and girls aged between 12 and 16 an activity on Friday and Saturday nights. It was set up in response to concerns about youth crime levels and anti-social behaviour.
Soccer One works with first year secondary school pupils throughout Scotland regardless of ability or gender.
Former Scotland manager Walter Smith believes initiatives such as Soccer One are "vitally important to the future of the game in Scotland” so, as well as providing youngsters with an opportunity for formal football training, the new injection of cash may help breed the Scottish football stars of tomorrow.
New money
Friday's annoucement is for a three-year football initiative funded from over £2.2 million from proceeds of crime funds and £1,926,485 of funding from the SFA, HBoS and the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.
It is the first of a range of activities for young people under the Scottish government's "Cashback for Communities" scheme which will see the money and goods seized from serious organised criminals being used to make a real difference to the lives of young people across Scotland.