Funding delight
Huge Davie Park pitch boost
There were celebrations this week as Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club announced that it has been awarded £250,000 in funding for the improvements and installation of a 3G playing surface at Davie Park.
The funding is from the Gannochy Trust and is believed to be one of the largest contributions to a project from the Perth-based charity.
And the money, along with the £500,000 already agreed by Perth and Kinross Council, means that the longawaited project can get under way in a matter of weeks.
The grant will also enable the club to employ a full-time community development manager.
Planning permission was recently granted for a substantial revamp of Davie Park.
The first phase of the project will see the installation of a 3G pitch at the home of Blairgowrie Juniors FC, floodlights and refurbishment of the stand, including replacing the roof.
Once completed, the pitch will be available for use seven days a week from 8am to 10pm, and will be open to all clubs and groups and organisations in the community to use.
Sandy Thomson from BRCFC has been heavily involved in the project for a number of years.
He explained: “This grant supports the aims of both BRCFC and the Gannochy Trust, which include providing greater access to more sustainable facilities, improving infrastructure, developing and inspiring young people, improving the quality of life for people, creating positive changes in people’s lives and communities and access to training, learning, employment and volunteering opportunities.
“When I received the call from Fiona Russell at the Gannochy Trust I was blown away by the amount of the award and kind of got a bit emotional.
“A lot of time and work has gone into this application by the committee, along with footballing partners the SFA and, in particular, east region development manager Gavin Tinley.
“A grant of this amount is totally overwhelming and proves that working with the correct partners plus the work that all the volunteers have put in over the years is beginning to pay dividends.
“And this is not all about football. Although it will enable the club to grow, these facilities will benefit all the community and will put Rattray on the map as a sports centre to be proud of.”
Chair of BRCFC, Eck Petrie, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this news.
“It is great to see the club growing and this new facility will go along way to support that further, from grass roots to grey roots – it’s going to be used by people of all ages and will be a fantastic asset to the whole community.”
Blair Juniors coach Cammy Sands added: “Blairgowrie has been lacking in training facilities for young people and groups for far too long.
“This investment from the Gannochy Trust will help BRCFC deliver a facility that can be used by the local community, groups and surrounding areas to meet our local needs and stop groups having to travel to other towns to train.”