Glasgow community-run sports pitches given over £370,000 in funding

Over £370,000 of funding has been given out to community-run sports facilities in Glasgow.

Glasgow City Council say the funding, which includes contributions from the Scottish Football Association (SFA), will improve sports facilities in Govan and Castlemilk.

Barlia Sports Complex will receive the majority of the funding – £298,597 – for the replacement and maintenance of synthetic grass surfaces on a full size 3G pitch.

Three pitches that can be used for five-a-side football will also be replaced and upgraded.

£72,665 of council funding will go to the Park Villa Community Sports Hub in Govan, to replace and maintain one full-size 3G and a 7-a-side 2G pitches.

Both centres are community-led through People Make Glasgow Communities programme.

John Harkins, Charity Manager at Castlemilk Community Football Trust, which runs the Barlia Sports Complex, said: “We are thrilled to announce this game-changing investment. This is a hugely exciting project for Castlemilk Community Football Trust, our members, teams and the whole Castlemilk community.

“The Council and SFA’s commitment and confidence in our vision is a testimony to all the hard work done so far in resurrecting Barlia from a near derelict facility that lay closed and abandoned for nearly two years.

“Since taking over the management of the facility in February 2022 we have hosted nearly 600 full matches, providing a home pitch to 86 different teams and thousands of midweek training sessions for 26 Castlemilk and Southside teams.

“In addition, we have delivered nearly 50 free football camps for local children during school holidays and allow free pitch access to children, young people and families, when the pitches aren’t in use by teams.

“And even opened our doors to the community on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and every public holiday.

“We are extremely grateful to our funding partners for their commitment to the redevelopment of the pitches, which is only the first stage of our ambitious plans for the facility at Barlia”.

The overall capital funding package for the project includes contributions from the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the SFA and the council.

Martin Currie, Park Villa community sports hub manager, added: “We are delighted to announce this investment will enhance our already successful Community Sports Hub.

“The investment from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish FA will help to redevelop our current 2G and 3G pitches into 5G playing areas together with 12 state of the art LED floodlights.

“Our main pitch will stay the same and offer full 11-a-side with three 7-a-side and our smaller pitch being able to offer a 9-a-side and two 5-a-side pitches.

“This will benefit not only all of our groups and teams, but the whole community. Since taking over the management of the facility in 2022 we have worked hard to provide a safe and enjoyable space for the community and with this investment we will be able to continue to develop our Community Sports Hub.”