Shipping container donation gives local trust a sporting chance

Gullane Athletic AFC Girls U-11 squad

CALA Homes (East) has donated a shipping container to a trust in East Lothian to help store equipment for a number of local sports clubs.

Prior to receiving the 20-foot unit, the Gullane Sports Development Trust (GSDT) had been forced to use changing facilities to store equipment. The new container allows full use of the Gullane Sports Pavilion facilities.

The main beneficiaries are Gullane Athletic AFC and Gullane Hockey Club – with more than 200 combined members – as well as Gullane Netball Club and a number of additional clubs.

Mike Mackie, chair of the GSDT, said, “The container is solving a long-standing storage issue we’ve had at the pavilion, enabling us to make full use of the facilities once again. In addition, the storage container is large enough that we can store some of our outdoor 7- and 9-aside football goals. These were previously stored outside so it is great we’re now able to keep them in a secure place.

“All of us at the trust are incredibly grateful to CALA for the donation. Our clubs are constantly growing and the new storage facility is allowing us to continue expanding for years to come.”

The Gullane Sports Pavilion and AstroTurf pitch were opened in 2017. CALA has a previous history with the trust, after helping to enable the water supply to the pavilion building.

Philip Hogg, sales and marketing director at CALA Homes (East), said, “Having that extra bit of support can go a long way for local sports clubs and facilities. We hope our contribution enables the GSDT to play an even bigger role in this community. With the launch of our Saltcoats development, we look forward to making many more positive contributions to the area for years to come.”

CALA has recently completed its nearby Marine Rise, Fentoun Green and Fentoun Meadows developments. The housebuilder’s new development, Saltcoats Grange, has now launched to market.