Football speaks every language
Football has long been called a universal language and now, Glasgow Clyde College and Queen’s Park Football Club are proving just how true that is.
As part of a growing partnership between the two organisations, Queen’s Park have gifted official football kits to the College’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) team, a group made up of students from all over the world who are learning English while studying at Glasgow Clyde College. Over one in four ESOL students in Scotland attend Glasgow Clyde College for the course, and students covering almost 140 different languages are currently enrolled.
Queen’s Park have so far provided three separate kits for the ESOL teams to play in, which include tops, shorts, socks as well as club three-quarter zips for the students on the team.
For many, football offers a way to connect before words even come easily. The new kits symbolise more than just a strip, they represent inclusion, pride, and the idea that sport can unite people from any background or language.
Robert Anderson, Assistant Principal for International and Business Development at Glasgow Clyde College, said:
“Our ESOL students come to Glasgow from across the globe, and while they’re here to learn English, they’re also building new lives and finding community. Football helps with that in a really special way, it gives them confidence, friendships, and a space where everyone speaks the same language, even when words are still being learned. We’re incredibly grateful to Queen’s Park for helping bring that spirit to life.”
For participating students, the partnership goes beyond just wearing a new strip. Matches and training sessions offer an outlet for teamwork, social connection, and cultural exchange, helping learners practise English in informal settings while developing confidence both on and off the pitch. What begins as a friendly game often becomes a support network that helps students settle into life in Scotland.
Kieran Koszary, Commercial Director at Queen’s Park FC, said:
“This partnership with Glasgow Clyde College is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when sport and education come together. The ESOL initiative in particular captures the essence of football and we’re proud to support it.”
The partnership goes far beyond the pitch. GCC media students are also getting the chance to step inside the professional world of football by joining Queen’s Park’s matchday media team. Students are invited to work alongside the club’s communications staff as reporters, photographers, and videographers, gaining hands-on experience in a live sporting environment.
In addition, the College proudly sponsors Queen’s Park’s post-match manager interviews, with a GCC media student leading the questioning after every home game. The finished interviews are shared across the club’s social channels, giving students valuable exposure and a professional platform to showcase their work.
David Oliver, Media and Communications Manager at Queen’s Park, said:
“Working with GCC students on matchdays has been a real highlight. They bring enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism, and we love seeing them grow in confidence throughout the season.”
As part of the partnership, a select number of tickets for Queen’s Park’s upcoming home game against Raith Rovers have been made available to Glasgow Clyde College students, another way to connect the students with the club.
From the pitch to the press box, the partnership between Glasgow Clyde College and Queen’s Park FC is helping students learn new skills, find their voice, and build connections that go far beyond the classroom proving that in football, everyone truly speaks the same language.