£2 million investment from sportscotland for facilities across Scotland 

Tuesday 20 December 2005

sportscotland is providing a £2 million cash injection to improve sports facilities across the country, Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson announced today.

The investment of £2,002,702 highlights sportscotland’s quest to enhance sports facilities at all levels across the country. In particular this round of awards focuses on the improvement of pitches and changing facilities and demonstrates sportscotland’s commitment to improving the quality of Scotland’s existing stock of pitches.

Ms Ferguson said: "The funding from sportscotland will not only provide top-class facilities for communities across Scotland, it will also encourage people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle through participation in sport."

One of the award beneficiaries is Spartans Community Football Academy in Edinburgh, and Gordon Strachan, a patron of the Academy, took time out from his busy schedule at Celtic this week (Tuesday 20^th December) to meet with members of the Spartans Football Club to lend his support to their exciting project. The award of £400,000 will help provide a new full size synthetic grass training pitch with changing facilities situated at a site in Pilton. The whole project will see the area benefit from a new clubhouse, a new grass stadium pitch and a 500-seater stand.

The new facility will provide a home base for Spartans FC to develop football from grass roots to senior level and contribute towards delivering the aims and objectives of the Scottish Football Association Youth Action Plan. The facility will be used by local primary and secondary schools for curriculum and after school activities. The clubhouse will also provide the community of north Edinburgh with a much needed resource.

Craig Graham, Club Captain, Spartans Community Football Academy said: "This announcement of funding from sportscotland is fantastic news for Spartans and will see the new Academy provide the Club and north Edinburgh with a much needed training and youth development facility. The project will directly increase the opportunities available to young people in the area to take part in football, providing them with high quality coaching and pathways to see them achieve their full potential. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank local community groups, schools and colleges, Edinburgh City Council, Miller Construction and the Scottish Football Association for their support for this project."

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland said: "We are delighted to be supporting the provision and upgrading of Scotland’s pitches and changing facilities which is improving the quality of facilities for pitch sports and increasing their playing capacity.

"All these awards, totalling just over £2 million, shows sportscotland’s commitment to providing communities across Scotland with quality, accessible facilities, to ensure that more people have the opportunity to participate and develop in sport."

This round of awards sees a number of sports/organisations benefiting including: a new indoor skatepark and climbing facility at Transition Extreme Sports Centre in Aberdeen; a full size floodlit synthetic grass pitch at Greenfield Football Centre in Glasgow, pitch and changing facilities at two sites in the Western Isles; and the provision of a junior golf practice area at Whinhill Golf Club in Greenock for youngsters taking part in the clubgolf initiative.

In addition sportscotland is pleased to announce a Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) award of £10,000 to Alloa Rugby Football Club. The award will contribute towards the post of Youth Development Officer who will deliver a new youth programme for rugby, using the club’s facilities, targeting three secondary schools and 19 primary schools within the Alloa and South East SIP area. The post is in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council, the Scottish Rugby Union and private sponsorship.

• Gordon Strachan will be returning to his old school to take part in a photocall to celebrate the funding to Spartans Community Football Academy. This will take place at Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road, Edinburgh at 4.00pm on Tuesday 20 December, where Gordon, funding partners of the project and local schoolchildren will be available for photographs. Contact: Craig Graham, Club Captain on 07768 005470.
• Launched in March 2004, the Building for Sport Programme (BfS) is divided into two strands; Community Facilities and Training and Competition Facilities.
• Applications for the Community Facilities Programme covers the provision or upgrading of facilities for the local community.
• The Training and Competition Facilities Programme concentrates on the provision or upgrading of centres designated as a national or regional facility by the relevant national governing body for sport.

sportscotland Building for Sport Programme - December 2005

Spartans Community Football Academy (City of Edinburgh)
Project Title: Spartans Community Football Academy
Award: £400,000
Contact for Press: Craig Graham, Club Captain, Spartans Community Football Academy
Tel: 07768 005470

To provide a full size new generation synthetic grass pitch with floodlighting and changing facilities. The whole project will see the creation of a training and youth development facility which will include a new clubhouse with changing facilities, one grass stadium pitch with a 500-seater stand, and small sized grass training areas.

Glasgow City Council
Project Title: Greenfield Football Centre
Award: £200,000
Contact for Press: Paul Kane, Press Officer, Glasgow City Council
Tel: 0141 281 5387

This facility is Glasgow City Council’s largest pitch venue. The funding will provide a full size floodlit synthetic turf pitch. This facility will complement the 14-team changing pavilion (still be constructed) and upgraded grass pitches, which previously received a £200,000 sportscotland Lottery award.

Aberdeen City Council
Project Title: Aulton Pavilion and Pitch Developments (Aberdeen City Council)
Award: £450,000
Contact for Press: Shona Hendry, Press Officer, Aberdeen City Council
Tel: 01224 522921

To create a new pavilion to house eight 11-a-side teams also to reconstruct and improve drainage and wear quality of existing six 11-a-side and 15 soccer sevens pitches.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Project Title: Bayhead Pitch Development Programme (Stornoway)
Award: £115,920
Contact for Press: Nigel Scott, Press Officer, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 709389

Upgrade grass playing surface to provide quality pitch for rugby and football including a training area.

Point Sport and Recreation Association (near Stornoway)
Project Title: Point Sport and Recreation Association
Award: £139,000
Contact for Press: Angus Mackay, Secretary, Point Sport & Recreation Association
Tel: 07795 216502

Enhance existing grass pitch with improved drainage. Provide new changing rooms and multi-purpose facilities with parking.

Livingston Rugby Football Club
Project Title: Additional changing rooms and referees room.
Award: £153,455
Contact for Press: Andy Thorn, President, Livingston RFC
Tel: 07803 506392

Extend current stand to provide four changing rooms, referees room, equipment store and fitness room.