City’s youth football ‘super-club’ splits up after only 14 months

Letham and Fair City decide to go their separate ways after just over a year

Perth’s youth football “super-club” is to split after little more than a year in existence.

For the past 14 months, the city’s Letham FC and Fair City Juniors FC had been working together.

Operating side-by-side at the former’s £750,000 Seven Acres facility, the intention had been to create the east of Scotland’s largest grassroots football organisation.

That was successfully achieved with the merger and the teams have been training and playing there ever since.

Now, however, after what is being described as “a season’s trial”, the decision has been taken to bring the “strategic partnership” to an end.

A review among the members of both clubs decided their futures were best served by two separate organisations.

The parties – who have enjoyed longterm friendship – have stressed the split will not harm youth football in the city.

And they have said the two clubs’ work to provide sporting opportunities to as many young people as possible will continue.

Perth is a hotbed of youth participation in sport, with local clubs such as Letham, Fair City and Jeanfield Swifts supporting an increasing number of teams for boys and girls.

Fair City will now turn its attention to its facility requirements, while Letham also want to develop what it has on offer at Seven Acres.

That could be a new clubhouse and changing facilities – a dream of former Letham president Ken Drummond, who died earlier this year.

Letham club secretary Jon Kidd said: “The partnership with Fair City delivered benefits for both organisations.

“As members’ clubs, however, we must take the view of our members into account and they felt it better that we continue as two separate clubs.

“Through the past year friendships have been formed which will endure, despite the partnership ending.

“The objective of providing quality football opportunities to as many children as possible will continue to be the driver for all involved.”

Through the past year friendships have been formed which will endure, despite the partnership ending. JON KIDD, LETHAM