Former Everton and Rangers player Steven Naismith has invested a six-figure sum in sport-tech platform ScribePro.
The ex-footballer, who played for 103 matches and scored 18 times for the Toffees, is backing the medical app and online portal that logs real-time interactions between athletes and clinicians.
In addition to his investment, Naismith – who most recently managed Heart of Midlothian – will take on an ambassadorial role with the company, introducing the merits of ScribePro to football clubs and national associations from his experience as both a player and coach. He will also consult on the technology’s future development.
Naismith worked his way through the youth systems at Rangers and Kilmarnock, before becoming a central part of both clubs at senior level with 200 appearances and nearly 60 goals. He went on to play around 150 matches, scoring 24 times, in the English Premier League for Everton and Norwich, before returning to Scotland with Hearts. He also found the net on 10 occasions during 51 appearances for his country.
The funding from Naismith will enable ScribePro to progress its expansion plans, which include increasing its market share and enhancing the platform’s features. Recent additions to the award-winning software include custom reports that can be sent between national association and clubs, while an upcoming update will include using data to provide average return-to-play timelines for specific injuries.
ScribePro was founded by Jonny Gordon, a consultant in emergency medicine and Scotland Men’s A team doctor, and David Lowe, an academic consultant in emergency medicine and co-director of EmQuire Research. The duo teamed up with healthcare specialists to establish the company after identifying the need to modernise the paper-based systems used for team-managed sports.
Naismith said: “Technology like this can make things better for everyone involved in sport. From my experience as a player – when I had some injury problems myself – I know the process of sharing or even accessing fitness and injury data could be clunky, to say the least. And I’m looking forward to helping develop the platform further, supporting the decisions managers make with players and working with clinicians on recovery programmes and availability.
“More players are beginning to understand they have a short career and, while they might make good money, they retire and still have half their lives ahead of them. In the age of social media there are so many opportunities for players to get involved with, but it’s important they get involved with something they believe in.
“The more former players who can give something back to improve football, the better the sport will be. Working with ScribePro is one of the ways I want to do that.”
ScribePro is currently used by 11 national associations across football, rugby, and cricket, including the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Rugby Union. The team has also successfully delivered projects for the FIFA Club World Cup and the Rugby League World Cup.
Internationally, nine national football associations use the platform – including the Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland – and the company recently signed its first partnership in American football.
Since its last investment round in 2022, ScribePro has grown from two contractors to a team of eight full-time staff and a 260% increase in the number of squads covered.
Jonny Gordon, CEO of ScribePro, said: “I’ve known Steven for about 20 years and his experience in football as a player and a manager at both club and international levels are exceptional. His career reflects many of the fundamental parts of our business – innovation, excellence, and player care – making him a perfect match for us. It’s a real privilege to have him involved with ScribePro and he will input into the service’s future design, helping take us to that next level.
“While football and rugby are our main focus, the technology can be used across any sport. Clubs and national associations across the world have been very receptive to using the platform and we have received fantastic feedback, which also helps to drive further development of the product.
“Steven’s investment and new role are testament to what we’re trying to achieve with ScribePro, making it the number one choice for digital medical management in sport.”
