Livingston Football Club have helped launch the careers of many a successful footballer.
Now they’re hoping to unearth West Lothian’s next top band after appealing to local musicians to send in their tunes to be played in front of thousands at the Tony Macaroni Arena in the build-up to Livi’s matches.
The idea is the brainchild of assistant stadium announcer Liam Innes, who took up the role last month.
Innes, a life-long Lions supporter, will primarily be helping out with matchday announcements but, after penning a club song a couple of seasons ago which is now played just before kick-off at every Livi home game, he’s keen to give others that experience.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, he said: “I wrote a song called ‘Pride of our Town’ when Livingston reached the League Cup final a couple of years ago and it was honestly one of the coolest moments of my life when I heard it before a game for the first time.
“I still get a real buzz whenever it gets played at a game.
“It’s a song specifically about Livingston but hearing any of my songs that I’d recorded previously would have been unbelievable so I thought that getting other bands involved and giving them that experience was something I really wanted to make happen.”
He added: “It doesn’t matter if they support Livi or are just from West Lothian, we want to play and help promote local bands at the club.
“For any band to come to a game and hear their song played in front of thousands of people will be really cool.”
It’s all part of a close-knit, family atmosphere that the club has been keen to create over recent years and Innes says he’s noticed a real effort to engage with the local community during his time in the stands and now behind the mic.
He said: “It’s been really noticeable over the last few years that the club is working hard to be a big part of the local community.
“The club went through some tough years and there really was a disconnect between Livingston and the community.
“To bring something even as small as playing a three-minute song from a band whose drummer stays in Livingston makes them feel involved.
“You can tell the shift in the club and it’s something I’ve clearly felt since taking on my role, that this is now once again a football club for the people of West Lothian.”
If you wish to send any music in for consideration, please email tannoy@livingstonfc.co.uk.
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