Sporting facilities best in UK

Stirling's sporting facilities now match the UK's best

£3 million floodlit pitch investment signals new era for Sports Village complex -  

The first international class sporting facilities to be completed in Scotland since Glasgow was named as the host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games have been officially opened in Stirling.

Part of the £27.3 million Stirling Sports Village development, which remains on target for opening in early 2009, the complex’s new floodlit third generation (3G) football and rugby pitches and water-based hockey pitch have been completed on schedule and were opened by Stirling Provost, Margaret Brisley, Friday, November 23.

Costing around £3 million, the pitches have been funded by Stirling Council, sportscotland and the Scottish Government and will be managed by Active Stirling. The aim is to attract major sporting events and teams to the area while encouraging locals of all ages and ability to test their skills on the same surfaces as their heroes.

To mark the opening, the Scottish and Irish men’s and women’s hockey sides are participating in an International Challenge Series on the new water-based hockey surface over the weekend of November 23, 24 and 25.

Provost Brisley said it was important for all concerned to see the new pitches opened and felt they would make a significant impact on the area.

“There are important sporting times ahead for both Scotland and the UK with the Olympics in 2012 and now the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and we must all play our part in allowing those with dreams to one day participate at that level to give it their best shot,” she added.

“The national football and rugby teams have also seen upturns in their fortunes and if we in Stirling can play a part in providing youngsters with the opportunity to test their skills on the best possible facilities then the significant investment involved will pay dividends for many years to come.”

Active Stirling Chair, Councillor John Hendry, commented: “The hockey surface we have created is the best of its kind in the UK, while the new 3G pitch has been completed with 65mm pile which makes it ideal for both football and rugby use and is again a first in Scotland.

“That level of commitment is important, especially as we will be looking to attract International competitions to the Stirling Sports Village complex as well as perhaps bring some of the major nations participating in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games to the area for pre-event training.

“The possibilities are significant, the amenities are superb and with phase two of the development bringing top class swimming and curling facilities we believe the health and economy of Stirling and the central belt will benefit enormously.”

Structural steelwork on the indoor development, which will also cater for badminton, volleyball and climbing, is already changing the landscape at Forthbank and the new facilities are set to compliment Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium and Stirling County’s cricket developments.

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “It is great to see the first phase of the Stirling Sports Village opening, which is part of the Scottish Government’s National and Regional Sports Facility Strategy (NRSFS).

“The Stirling Sports Village, which includes the pitches opening today, received funding of £2.5 million through sportscotland and will play a key role in increasing participation in sport within Stirling.

“In addition they will help support our elite athletes and those with an aspiration to compete at a higher level. We look forward to the completion of the remainder of the project in 2009.”

Around eleven of the GB Olympic hockey squad will participate in the weekend’s hockey international matches which will be played at the following times:

Friday 23 November

Saturday 24 November

Sunday 25 November