City's field of dreams

james73 · City's field of dreams

FORGET the Old Firm's flashy training facilities at Murray Park and
Lennoxtown - Glasgow's new £15.7million football centre kicks them into
touch.

It has taken nearly two years to build the huge 7.6-hectare complex in
Toryglen. But you don't have to be a superstar to use it because the
centre is open to everyone.

It is home to Scotland's first full-size indoor synthetic football pitch, which
is built to FIFA 2 Star standards and has 700-seater stand over-looking it.

It has three further outdoor synthetic pitches each with floodlighting and a
grass pitch.

The centre also has a basketball court, changing rooms, briefing room,
cafeteria and a rest area where parents can relax and there is also a
boardroom and a physiotherapy area.

Kids who took advantage of the Evening Times' free Easter football camp
places were among the first to use the centre, which opened to the public
for the first time this week.

Councillor Archie Graham said: "It is the first of its kind and is a better
training facility than either Rangers or Celtic have. It will provide a range
of benefits to the area and can also be used as a training centre for the
2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth games."

The indoor pitch is the same size as the pitch at Hampden and is made of
synthetic grass which feels similar to playing on real grass and was
awarded the two-star rating, which is FIFA's highest accolade for a plastic
pitch.

The new complex had attracted around 500 children in its first week and it
is hoped that this total will reach more than 10,000 in the first year.

James H

james73

I played at this complex last night. Superb set-up.

James H

dickyhart

had a nosey about the other day, while down at ASDA, very smart I thought.

james73

Playing 7s there again the morra.

James H

Fjord