Community sports pitch plans on target for Hill of Beath

Committee of local folk aims to take over running of community centre

Plans to create a 3G sports pitch in Hill of Beath, the home town of Scotland legend Jim Baxter, are on target.

With many dubbing the village “forgotten”, a committee has been formed following a public meeting with the goal of taking over the running of Hill of Beath Community Centre through a community asset transfer.

This would enable it to apply for external funding to install a 3G sports pitch which would benefit the public and local football clubs.

Jock Finlayson, the general manager at Hill of Beath Hawthorn JFC, said: “This pitch would benefit the whole community including local school children and sports clubs such as the Blue Brazil Boys Club.

“The Hawthorn would make use of the pitch maybe 20 to 30 times a season but the main focus for me is having something that benefits local children. There are no recreational facilities for kids in this village whatsoever.

“People believe Hill of Beath has been neglected for years and we are a forgotten village.”

He added: “If you combine the school kids, the Blue Brazil Boys Club and others you could be talking in the region of 450 kids benefiting from this pitch. Whether this project comes to fruition we will have to wait and see but things are moving in a positive direction.”

Dunfermline and West Fife SNP MP Douglas Chapman MP said: “Hill of Beath produced two Scottish footballing greats in Jim Baxter and Scott Brown, and it’s only right children from this proud village are given the best opportunity to follow in their footsteps by having their own 3G pitch.

“I would like to thank the members of the community who have come forward to volunteer their hours in the coming weeks to see if they can get the community asset transfer off the ground.

“Hopefully they can make this dream of a 3G pitch a reality to help us transform the recreational facilities in Hill of Beath.”

Anyone interested in being involved in the community committee should email janis_finleyson@sky.com for more information.

Picture: Kenny Smith. Hill of Beath is the home town of Scottish football legend Jim Baxter.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn JFC would make use of the pitch maybe 20 to 30 times a season but the main focus will be something which benefits local children.