Football fans score with all-weather pitch from GHA

Published by Brian Church for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Rangers have had a troubled time off the pitch but Glasgow Housing Association is giving all football fans something to smile about.

GHA and its partners have started work on a disused piece of land in Corkerhill, South Side of Glasgow, with the goal of transforming it into an all-weather football pitch complete with changing rooms and floodlights. Young offenders will be part of the work force. 

The £300,000 facility will be used by Pollok United Soccer Academy, but will also be open to the public and free for young people in the area. GHA brought together a variety of organisations, including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Justice Authority, the Scottish Government and sportscotland.

Since stock transfer in 2003, GHA has invested more than £1.1 billion in refurbishing, modernising and improving homes across the city.

Staff from GHA’s Mosspark local office and GHA’s South Area Team, as well as local councillors and representatives from sportscotland and Pollok United, were on hand to mark the start of work on the site.

GHA South Area Director Hazel Young said: "We want to increase opportunities for all our tenants, and this new facility will be very positive for the community. It means young people can have fun, get fit and improve their football skills."

Bailie Elaine McDougall, Chair of Glasgow Community Justice Authority, said: "Community sentencing is about offenders putting something back into society. The new football academy is sure to be well-loved and those who work on it are entitled to take some pride from their efforts. That's good for the offenders involved and for the community, as those offenders will be less likely to commit crimes in future."

Work should take around eight weeks to complete.

A range of partners were involved in funding the facility, including GHA, sportscotland, Glasgow City Council’s Greater Pollok and Craigton Area Committees, Glasgow City Council’s Integrated Grants Fund, the Scottish Government’s Cash Back for Communities, Network Rail, and the Scottish Football Partnership.

GHA is part of the Wheatley Housing Group which is also made up of Cube HA, YourPlace and Lowther Homes.

The photo shows youngsters in Corkerhill celebrating work starting on the new pitches.