A total of 40 grassroots football clubs in Scotland are to receive a share of £6 million in funding from the UK Government to go towards infrastructure projects.
The funding will see the creation of new facilities including state-of-the-art 3G pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and new floodlights – with 30 of the projects underway and the remaining 10 to begin shortly.
The projects announced as receiving the funding will benefit from £6 million in funding from the UK Government in 2023/24, with £5.4 million also being allocated from next year’s overall budget.
One club set to benefit is Glasgow Girls & Women FC, which has received £620,000 to support the creation of a ‘state-of-the-art’ 3G pitch at their Springboig ground in the east end of Glasgow.
Elsewhere, East Kilbride United has received £400,000 for a new artificial pitch, Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Trust secured £510,000 for a new changing pavilion, Newtongrange Star Football and Social Club in Dalkeith received over £25,000 for solar panels, and Glasgow City Council was awarded £45,000 for new floodlights at Knightswood Secondary School.
UK Government sports minister Stuart Andrew said, “Sport and physical activity is vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year’s resolution to exercise more.
“We know that one of the major barriers in getting active is access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are delivering 40 new projects in Scotland.
“The UK Government and Scottish FA have already delivered another 40 projects backed by £4 million to give local communities the high quality facilities they need.”
Scottish FA president Mike Mulraney added, “One of the priorities for the Scottish FA is ensuring that local communities across the nation have access to facilities, so it is wonderful to see the UK Government’s commitment to investing in our national game through the Scottish FA’s grassroots pitch and facilities fund.”
