There can be no better day to consider the funny old game that is political football.

It is an activity which can transform shootie-in into the worst kind of parking-the-bus as the self-interested defend their territory, the latest apparent example to come my way having been provided in the difficulty encountered in getting what looks the simplest of projects up and running.

Some weeks back I mentioned Richard McShane who runs Easterhouse Phoenix Development Ltd, aiming to provide activities that will help wean local weans off the dominant local gang culture.

His objectives are broad, but one specific project looked set to be both easily implemented.

Invited onto a radio phone-in the day after Andy Murray won Wimbledon, McShane was asked whether Easterhouse could provide a future tennis champion.

On replying that he thought not he was accused of being negative, until he pointed out that Easterhouse (pop. c. 26,000) does not have any tennis facilities.

That is, McShane observes, all the more frustrating because despite tennis's middle-class image, Murray is idolised by a sizeable proportion of local youngsters for the very reasons some of the Wimbledon set have reservations, his sweary on-court aggression.

David Marshall, CEO of Tennis Scotland also participated in that broadcast and immediately engaged in dialogue, since when McShane believes they have participated in around eight meetings, discussing setting up mini tennis courts at a cost of around £500 a time.

The idea was to install them in local primary schools, requiring council clearance. McShane says his attempts to get hold of his local Labour councillor failed, but he was put in touch with SNP councillor Gerry Boyle who operates in the same part of Glasgow and was instantly willing to get involved.

They thought they were finally on the point of action last month when, they reckon, their tennis plan had to make way for political football as - with site identified for the first court and funding available from Tennis Scotland - they both claim the plan was blocked.

Boyle is convinced that is down to party politics and, while McShane agrees, there is a visceral ring to his complaint that: ""I don't care which party my councillors are from I just want tennis here for the kids in Easterhouse and it's a disgrace after all the meetings I have attended that it has now been held up by politics.

"It shows politicians are not interested in helping unless they are the ones getting the credit and who suffers?"

Asked to explain Glasgow Council's spokeswoman replied: "Our discussions with Tennis Scotland and Sportscotland are ongoing about all aspects of this project which would complement the overall tennis strategy across the city.

"We are working with Glasgow Life to agree the coaching input that would also be required once an area for the tennis net and posts is identified and following the health and safety risk assessment that is required in any of our school playgrounds."

She subsequently sent lists outlining how many local youngsters have been exposed to the dreaded taster-sessions that let sports administrators claim to have exposed youngsters to sport while having minimal impact on real sports participation which requires day-in, day-out access.

By contrast this wee project was about creating simple facilities that let youngsters play among themselves and Tennis Scotland somewhat undermined the Council's statement when admitting that it "has stalled at the local authority side of things."

You wonder whether Murray will still be a role model for those who would, in their way, emulate him by setting up matches with mates while shouting and swearing to their hearts content, or will just be some old bloke in a blazer by the time any tennis facilities are available in Easterhouse.

What is striking and makes this a broad political issue, is that there has been such a capitalist attitude to sports provision in this country, regardless of who is in power nationally or locally.

In sporting terms the Nordic model, to which the SNP claims to aspire at national level, is based on the most important sporting event of 1966 which, to the horror of our neighbours, did not happen at Wembley, but when the Council for Europe launched the "Sport for All" initiative.

Based on a bottom up approach of letting local communities decide their priorities in the context of the opportunity to play sport being a basic human right, the term "Sport for All" is now derided by many sports administrators, not least those who believe that they should decide where, when and who gets to play sport.

To date our politicians have left this to the so-called "experts" and their vested interest, to the extent that a case can be made for political football having become the national sport.

Perhaps all my years involved in rugby are to blame but I see a real opportunity here for politicians of whatever hue to transform society by taking an example from one of England's poshest schools.

Whoever picks up this political football and runs with it could be onto a real winner in the build-up to next year's Scottish election.