Opening is a huge day for BRCFC

Sandy Thomson is a trustee of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club and leads the steering group behind the Davie Park project.

Thanking everyone for their support, he said:“This is a momentous day for football facilities in Rattray and Blairgowrie.

“The last time there was such an occasion was the opening of this, the home of Blairgowrie Juniors, in 1949.

“This is a very proud moment for me personally and a great achievement by the 3G committee members who have stuck to the task of delivering this first stage of the development of the park and the facility which is not just for the football club but for the whole community, using football to bring people together in some form of activity.

“I am really chuffed to see so many people here, particularly young people.

“There are numerous people to thank and hopefully I will have remembered all of them, if not then I apologise in advance.

“Thanks to PKC councillors and officers – Caroline Shiers, Bob Brawn, Tom McEwan, Andy Clegg, Caroline France, Norman Ballantyne, Malcolm Hill, Debbie Robertson, John Beveridge and David Niven, to name but a few.

“From the SFA, Kevin Lee, Gavin Tinley, Cameron Watt.

“The 3G committee and trustees Roy Coles, Rab Grieve, Donna Watson, Amanda Watson, Donna Gillie, Ian McGregor, Iain Waddell, Gavin Tolmie, Cammy Sands, Alex Petrie, Steve Booth and Caroline Shiers.

“BRDT, BRCFC, Blairgowrie Juniors, Balmoral AFC and Rattray AFC, Mike Tavendale, George Alan from Craigie with his invaluable knowledge, Allsports the main contractors – who have worked alongside us and been fantastic in their cooperation and worked under some very difficult weather conditions to have it completed before Christmas – Sportslabs, Steven Bryan, local contractors Paul Fraser and Tarkett Sports, Bob Smith, architect Ian MacGregor who gave us so much of his expertise and knowledge, David and Debbie from the Wee Coffee Shop and Subway’s Forbes Davidson for the soup and sandwiches, and my wife Brenda.

“None of this could have happened without funding and that is down to three major contributors – Perth and Kinross Council, The Gannochy Trust and sportscotland.

“Without their funding and faith in what we are doing for the area we would not be standing here today with this fantastic, floodlit, safe environment that will be the base and home of football for years to come.

“And most importantly I would like to thank everyone in the community here in Rattray and Blairgowrie for supporting the club and we look forward to phase two.”