East Kilbride venue set for 4G pitch revamp after £800k funding secured

dailyrecord.co.uk:

East Kilbride United are set to install a new 4G pitch at Kirktonholme Pavilion next year after securing £800,000 in funding.The charity – which works with East Kilbride YM and EKYC – currently operate two grass pitches at the venue but will switch to an artificial surface to allow more regular use of the facility, while catering more for their new girls’ section and disability-inclusive teams.It comes after a revamp of the facility this summer, installing solar panelling and providing greater disabled access.A grant of £350,000 has been awarded by the Scottish Football Association, £300,00 from South Lanarkshire Council’s Place Based Investment Fund, £100,000 from the council’s Renewable Energy Fund and £50,000 from the Scottish Football Partnership.EK United treasurer and secretary, Graeme Robertson, said: “We have been successful in securing £800,000 in grants for a new 4G pitch at Kirktonholme for next season.“Our new girls’ section play throughout the summer and we’ve got young kids who haven’t had a shot at Kirktonholme because we can only play so many games on the grass to protect the pitch.“It has been predominantly 11-a-side so we want to cater for everybody.“Claremont Colts, the disability inclusive club, are going to play at Kirktonholme as well once the pitch is open.

The funding will allow us to open up the space to more teams.“We’ve also just spent about £300,000 on solar panels covering the whole roof at Kirktonholme Pavilion and we have made the facility more disabled friendly, while upgrading certain areas as well, so there has been a lot of work going into the place.”Subject to planning approval, work is set to start in March 2024, with the pitches earmarked for opening in July 2024.Follow Lanarkshire