There are more than 700,000 people involved in the national game in some way, shape or form.

Fueled by clubs, schools, volunteers and supporters across Scotland, who make it all possible.

But they need somewhere to play.

Finding, improving and maintaining the right spaces to benefit communities is an ongoing challenge but it remains a priority – from grassroots to elite level.

As we enter the Scottish FA’s Week of Football, Danny Bisland, National Football Development Manager, is incredibly proud of the effort put in to keeping grassroots football going across the country: "There are 160,000 registered players – a record – but we estimate there could be something in the region of 700,000 people involved in the game at least once a week.

"Playing, driving players to games, watching, washing the strips and so on.

"Football is getting more popular, which is actually putting a demand on our infrastructure.

"We worked incredibly hard during Covid to get the game restarted and we have had a huge bounce-back since then.

"More people wanted to play the game – the young, the old, playing different formats and dropping in and out of recreational football.

"The Week of Football gives us a chance to shine a light on what is going on up and down the country.

"We are really lucky in that we got over £20 million from the UK Government about three years ago to spend over a four-year period until 2025, and we have managed to work with partners to leverage a portfolio worth about £30 million of investments.

"We have 100 projects to invest in across the country, which will include new 3G pitches, grass pitches, floodlights, changing pavilions. So a huge swathe of the country will manage to get investment, which is fantastic.

"We are very grateful for the UK Government and sportscotland, local authorities, leisure trusts and clubs who have all found investments for the game, but we need to do more.

"We need to improve access to the school estates. We need to make pitches more affordable. We need to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get involved.

"Everybody needs to play their part. We need to work together.

"Football is on the up, but there’s still more to be done."

The Week of Football is a rallying cry to get people out and about, active, involved with their local clubs, engaged with their local communities, and using local facilities.

This year's theme is #GetOutsideGetInvolved and today highlights the impact of community football spaces and the importance of facilities to the history and future of Scottish football.

Danny added: "The Week of Football will give us an opportunity to pause and reflect, to remind ourselves that we are a football nation and so many people want to take part in the game. EURO 2024 has been brilliant from that perspective also.

"The country will be at a standstill for two weeks to watch Scotland and hopefully longer, but we have to admit that some of the old-fashioned facilities have served their purpose.

"More girls, women, para players and older players are playing these days, and the facilities have to be better so that they want to be there. People will not turn up at places which are not fit for purpose.

"More and better community-based facilities which are attractive to players, parents and helpers, and access to them, is the way ahead. That is a challenge to us all."