Joy as sport projects net £2m investment

Two major community sports projects in Renfrewshire have hit the back of the net with a £2 million investment.

- TAYLOR MURRAY

Renfrewshire Council has confirmed an allocation of £780,000 from its artificial pitches grant fund which will be more than match-funded by the Scottish Football Association's (SFA) Scottish Football facilities fund.

The cash will support the development of new artificial playing surfaces for Thorn Athletic Community Trust and Inchinnan Development Trust (IDT), with each organisation receiving £390,000 from the council.

There will also be £432,194 for Thorn and £667,906 for IDT from the SFA. The funding will help deliver high-quality, multi-sport facilities that will be fully inclusive and accessible to the local community.

A third project at Renfrew FC to upgrade and replace their current surface will be supported by £196,601 from the SFA and brings the total investment in Renfrewshire’s artificial pitch provision to more than £2m.

The news is a huge boost to Johnstone-based Thorn who suffered last month when thousands of pounds worth of equipment was set alight in a shipping container at their Greenend Avenue base.

Alongside their extensive football programme, Thorn also demonstrated the provision of multi-sport activity and strong partnerships with other local community groups.