Published: Thursday, 4th September, 2008 4:32pm

£4m SFA-backed football acacdemy planned for Dunfermline

by Dolores Aughy

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FIFE Council"s hopes of teaming up with the SFA to create a £4 million football academy with a full-size indoor facility and all-weather pitches at Pitreavie playing fields are still on the cards.

"A Sports Facilities Strategy for Fife" went before councillors on the housing and communities committee last week when it was agreed to look at developing the academy.

The indoor facility alone would cost around £4 million and would be developed over the next seven to 10 years.

It would feature a state-of-the-art 3rd Generation synthetic turf pitch with viewing balconies and/or standing for 200 spectators, to be developed over the next four to six years.

The outdoor facility would consist of two floodlit 3G pitches, two grass pitches, two seven-a-side grass pitches and goalkeepers" training area.

Committee chair Brian Goodall confirmed, 'We"re still looking at putting a partnership together with Dunfermline Athletic FC, the SFA and the Pars Trust to develop a soccer academy adjacent to the playing fields at Pitreavie.

"It would be a positive thing on the back of the investment there"s been in the athletics centre.

'It would certainly be good for Dunfermline.

"We are still keen to do it but it would have to be done in partnership. It would be on top of the £2.3 million already invested in the athletics facilities there.'

He added, 'There will be another £10 million invested in smaller projects around Fife as well, things like changing facilities for the playing fields.'

Over the next 10 years £500,000 will be spent improving sports pitches and upgrading and/or replacing pavilions in Dunfermline.

The council will also liaise with the football development officers to look at increasing the number of developmental/soccer sevens pitches in Dunfermline.

Some £17 million is to be spent on refurbishing and enhancing the existing Carnegie Leisure Centre over the next one to three years.

The council and Scottish Gymnastics will seek to develop a bespoke regional gymnastics academy at Bruce Street Sports Centre in Dunfermline to replace the facility that is currently at the Carnegie Leisure Centre.

Meanwhile, £50,000 will be spent on repairs and maintenance at Dalgety Bay Sports and Leisure Centre over the next one to three years and £150,000 to extend the health and fitness suite over the next four to six years.

It was also highlighted at the meeting that there was a demand for tennis in Dunfermline and there could be an under-supply of rugby pitches in the city in the future.

A shortfall of hockey provision in Dunfermline means the council will consider the provision of a high quality sand-dressed synthetic turf pitch for the sport in the city (or Glenrothes) which should operate as a regional facility.

Rosyth Institute requires investment to improve the playing surface and drainage/porosity while Inverkeithing High School needs money to improve drainage and porosity and provide new goals.

Meanwhile, Townhill Park requires investment in equipment and pavilion infrastructure while councillors agreed the lack of pavilion provision should be addressed at Duloch Park.

Investment is required for goal posts at Dunfermline High School.

Head of community services Steve Grimmond said, 'We can now start work on a programme of maintenance and improvements to sports facilities that Fifers will see the benefit of in the next one to three years.

'At the same time, we will be carrying out option appraisals in a number of areas, such as golf and bowling, to decide the long-term approach to providing facilities that are accessible to all.'