Kyleakin sky high with opening of new pitch
Wednesday 5 July 2006
The Isle of Skye community of Kyleakin will be celebrating this Friday 7 July with opening a new grass sports pitch in the village.
Supported by an award of £46,186 from sportscotland’s Lottery funded Building for Sport programme, the pitch will be used primarily by the community football team, Kyleakin Football Club allowing them to participate in league games and host cup finals. It will also be used for other sports such as shinty, rugby, and athletics increasing the opportunity for local people to participate in sport and physical activity.
The previous sports pitch had been set out on land previously used for crofting and because of heavy use over the years was in very poor condition. Kyleakin FC decided to take on the task to install a new pitch, in consultation with the local community, as there is a lack of quality playing fields in the local area.
With the assistance of Highland Council Sports Development Team and the local primary school the club also plan to develop a programme of after school activities to increase sports participation for young people. The club also have the support of ‘The Voice of Kyleakin’, a local group which represents the young people in the area set up to ensure that their opinions are heard when it comes to decisions about their local community.
In 1994 when the idea of relocating the football field was first planned, in conjunction with plans for the new community hall, the District Council carried out the first feasibility study on the field and eventually purchased the land. Planning permission was granted for the new playing field in 2001, and in 2002 with the permission of the Highland Council, Kyleakin
Football Club began playing football on what was basically a field with the grass cut. In 2003 the club got agreement to lease the ground, and in conjunction with Highland Council began to source funding to develop the area into a pitch for various sports in the community.
John Reid, Chairperson of Kyleakin Football Club said: “Kyleakin Football Club would like to thank all the funding partners most sincerely for their contributions. In addition, grateful thanks goes to the contractors, they did an excellent job which exceeded all our expectations. It is thanks to everyone collectively that we now have a fantastic new playing field which will be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.”
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “sportscotland is delighted to have supported this great community project with an award of £46,186 from sportscotland’s Lottery funded Building for Sport programme, helping to widen the sporting opportunities for the community of Kyleakin introducing them to the benefits and enjoyment sport can provide.
“This project is another example of sportscotland’s commitment to providing communities across Scotland with quality, accessible facilities.”
- Other funders of this project have included: Highland Council (£10,750); Skye & Lochalsh Enterprise (£11,500); Club funds (£12,300); and an ‘in-kind contribution totalling £10,000 from Laffarge Aggregates who supplied discounted quarry materials.