The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 22-24 December 2023
Thousands of toys donated to kids’ hospital, ‘devastating blow’ to women’s football, M&S confirmed for Stockbridge + your weekend guide
🌤 Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers.
💰 Demand for foodbanks continues to increase locally. On a visit to the Edinburgh Food Project warehouse in Broomhouse yesterday I was fortunate enough to meet volunteers and staff to learn more about the huge effort being made to meet that demand. Fundraising Lead Fiona Anderson (pictured above) told me that expect to give out more than 2,000 food parcels this month alone.
⮑ I also handed over the £330 raised by subscribers of this newsletter, so thank you to everyone who donated. EFP runs seven foodbanks around the city at Craigmillar, Pilton, South Queensferry, Clermiston, Prestonfield, the Grassmarket and Broughton. - You can find out more about the charity here.
🥊 The Craigmillar boxing gym founded by Trainspotting actor Bradley Welsh closed last week. As a parting gift to the community, the team and volunteers led a toy donation drive over the past two months. This week they delivered thousands of toys to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children & Young People.
🛒 M&S Food is moving in to the former Scotmid Co-op on Raeburn Place in Stockbridge. - Plans are on the council planning portal.
⚽️ As reported yesterday, a financial crisis at Edinburgh City FC has seen more players quitting. Just 13 first team players are listed on the club’s website ahead of Saturday’s match against Cove Rangers.
⮑ The club’s former owner Tom Tracy said: “Players not being paid just before Christmas being the tip of the iceberg.” Tracy also revealed that a merger between Edinburgh City and Spartans had been agreed earlier this year - a merger to create FC Edinburgh Spartans - only for it to be rejected by the SPFL.
⮑ Meanwhile yesterday’s news that the women’s team had been folded was met with disappointment from many within the league. A Scottish Women’s Football statement said:
“News of the effective end of the Edinburgh City Women’s team will come as a devastating blow to the committed players in the squad. SWF has reached out to the players via the squad captain and stand ready to support them as best we can to ensure that no woman is lost to football. SWF have been in contact with Edinburgh City and are reassured that the club recognise the gravity of this situation and are pleased that they have offered support to players impacted by the decision through their chaplaincy service.”
⮑ Leith Athletic made a last minute offer to rescue the squad. But the side’s immediate withdrawal from the league could mean the bid is too late. More to come on this next week.
🔐 Airbnb is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to clamp down on people trying to book accommodation for potentially disruptive or unauthorised New Year’s Eve parties. The booking platform said it already stopped 260 Hogmanay party flats in Edinburgh. - Matthew Fulton, STV News.
👓 Specsavers is moving in to the former Wilkies clothes shop unit on Morningside Road. - Katie Williams, Edinburgh Live.
🎸 Bannerman’s has been branded ‘the best music venue in Edinburgh’ by the European Metal Talk website. Christian Kimmett, who books live music at Bannerman’s, is interviewed here.
🛠 Edinburgh Tool Library has opened its newest little free library in Portobello full of books, litter pickers and beach toys for anyone to borrow. - More on The Edinburgh Reporter.
🎾 A bid to instal floodlights at Drummond Lawn Tennis Club has been rejected. - New Town & Broughton Community Council on Twitter.