Perthshire Conservatives have welcomed funding of more than half a million pounds being given to Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Trust from the UK Government.
Councillor Caroline Shiers, who represents the Blairgowrie and the Glens ward, Murdo Fraser MSP and politician Stephen Kerr are all delighted at the announcement of £510,000 which will go towards a new pavilion at Davie Park in Rattray, Blairgowrie.
From Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire, 40 projects are to receive funding that will go towards facilities such as changing rooms and pavilions, state of the art 3G artificial grass pitches and new floodlights. Work is already underway on 30 of these projects, with the remaining 10 to commence shortly. The projects will benefit from £6 million from the UK Government in 2023/24, with £5.4 million already allocated from next year’s overall budget.
Commenting, Councillor Caroline Shiers said: “This is just the best news to start off 2024. It is a great privilege to be involved with Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Trust and to be part of the journey to deliver state of the art football facilities in Davie Park. Under the leadership of Sandy Thomson as chair, with the dedication of all the coaches and players, and with the significant investment and partnership of Perth and Kinross and the Gannochy Trust along with the Scottish Football Association and other funders and partners we have seen the delivery of the 3G pitch, and now move on to the really exciting phase two.
“This is about more than football though - this is giving Rattray the community facilities that have been called for as long as I have been a Councillor. Really exciting times and a huge thanks to all the major funders who are investing in the hundreds of people who play football at Davie Park each week and the wider community.”
And Mr Fraser added: “This is fantastic news that the UK Government Grassroots Sports fund has provided £510,000 towards the cost of building a new changing pavilion at Davie Park, Rattray. This will be warmly welcomed by everyone involved with Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Trust and local residents as well.
“It is a massive boost for the area.”
And Stephen Kerr, Scottish Conservative Candidate for Angus and Perthshire Glens, commented: “This wonderful new facility for Blairgowrie will make playing and training more comfortable and convenient for local and visiting players of all ages and stages. It is a great use of levelling-up funding by the UK Government.”
