In 2017, a survey commissioned by Perth and Kinross Council delivered through PMR Leisure, investigated options for the replacement of the Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, due to its poor condition. The survey highlighted the need for more investment in local sports facilities in Blairgowrie and Rattray, which resulted in a £500K grant from the Council for a half size artificial pitch at Davey Park, the local football club.
At the time, Sandy Thomson, Trustee at the Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club, was in talks with the Scottish Football Association (SFA). His priority was to secure better facilities and a 3G pitch within the town for all of the football teams.
After sitting down with the club, the SFA suggested all parties should take a longer-term view on what to do with council funding. It was decided a more ambitious plan to develop the facilities at Rattray should be put in place, involving the installation of a full-sized artificial pitch and upgrades to the indoor areas. Despite Perth and Kinross Council agreeing to the plan, the project was put on hold as the Covid pandemic took hold.
The pandemic changed the landscape, as the drive to get people outside and build back wellbeing, became a local and national priority. This resulted in the creation of the ‘Blairgowrie Development Plan’ involving the local community council and Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Trust. Davie Park become a keystone project within this framework.
In September 2021, work commenced on the new artificial pitch, which included new flood lights, drainage and a covered enclosure. In addition to the Council’s original grant, further funding was secured from Sports Scotland and The Gannochy Trust, who provided a £200k grant towards the new artificial pitch.
The project was completed in December 2021, with the official opening in the Spring of 2022.
In 2022 Core funding was also provided by the Trust to pay for operational costs, including the recruitment of a full time Community Development Officer. This allowed the club to develop more teams as well as create a school’s programmes and other community initiatives. In 2023 a second CDO was employed.
Commenting on the school’s programme, the Deputy Head of Rattray Primary School said: “The School of Football programme has helped increase the attendance and motivation of many of our targeted pupils.
Lawrie and Chelsea from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football have built strong and trusting relationships with children throughout the school, which has helped them to fulfil our school values of Learning, Included, Nurtured and Kind whilst supporting the school rules of Ready, Respectful and Safe.
Lawrie and Chelsea have also been flexible in adapting their practice to meet the changing needs of our pupils and this has supported them to be successful.”
Due to the lack of local facilities, demand for the new pitch has been considerable with club membership growing three-fold in the first 12 months. Players are now able to train and play all year round in a safe and welcoming environment. The women’s game has also blossomed, with more women and girls taking part due to the safe spaces created by the club.
The new pitch has also helped reduce community and club costs by eliminating the need for players, families and fans to travel to external facilities in Perth and Dundee. The knock-on effect has been a lower carbon footprint.
The club went on to secure further investment from The Gannochy Trust, SFA , Northwood Trust SFT, Sports Scotland as well as using a proportion of the original Council funding to start phase 2 of the development plan. This involves demolishing the original Blairgowrie Football Club, built back in 1948, and constructing a new club house, changing rooms and indoor community spaces.
The SFA provided £500K towards the project, as Davie Park aligned with the association’s wider plans to level up football grounds across the country.
The new facility will be built using a 30-unit modular design to reduce costs, providing enough space for four changing rooms for junior and senior teams including disabled access, a new kitchen and a multi-use open space for the community.
Work on the second phase of the development started in September 2024.
Sandy Thomson said: “It’s been nearly 10 years in the making, but we are delighted with the results, and with phase 2 underway, we’ll soon be able to offer even more to the local community.
Due to the artificial pitch and flood lights, our club can be used almost all year round as well as cater for a wider range of groups. We now have an over 35’s football team and can cater for walking football and more teams for women and girls.
We are also able to offer more to local schools, and recently took on a second community officer to facilitate these relationships. For example, we are about to join the SFA’s ‘Extra Time’ school’s programme where we will offer football training and free meals to kids.
Rattray has historically suffered form from a lack of facilities for the community, forcing people to look elsewhere with all the cost and travel implications. It’s fantastic to have something here on our doorstep to benefit our community for years to come.”
Though there aren’t any immediate plans for a phase three, with interest in the club growing, Sandy isn’t ruling it out.
“There have been some discussions about how we could develop the club even further, but right now it’s about focusing on what we have and getting that right. I’ve been involved since 1987, so to see the club where it is today is incredible. We’d like to thank The Gannochy Trust, Perth & Kinross Council, Sports Scotland, the SFA and all our supporters for making it happen.
I’d also like to thank my small but dedicated group of volunteers who have been instrumental over the last years in their support of the Club and ensuring its success.”
