FORGET the Old Firm's flashy training facilities at Murray Park and Lennoxtown - Glasgow's new £15.7million football centre kicks them into touch.
By Robert Moore
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.
Senior Football Development Officer, from Culture and Sport Glasgow, Graham Diamond said: "We are so fortunate to have it in Glasgow. To have a football facility that can cater for everyone, there is no end to what can be done."
The centre is available for anyone to use, from school children to adult amateur and professional teams.
Throughout the two-week school holiday break the centre is involved in the UK's largest football development programme.
It will involve more than 2000 children from across Glasgow and have them participating in a range of activities.
Tiernan McEnroe, aged 12 from Glasgow, said: "I have never seen a ground like it."
Ciaran Sharkey, aged 10 from Glasgow, preferred the synthetic pitch to traditional grass and said: "It is an amazing park and the pitch and stand are great."
It is thought that the Scotland team may use it to train on.
Scotland manager George Burley, who was shown around the new centre, said: "Having top quality indoor facilities like this one will mean that we can train and play all year round."
The Toryglen Football centre, which is run by Culture and Sport Glasgow on behalf of the city council, is now open to the public Monday to Friday 10am-10pm, Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday 9am-10pm.
Bookings can be made on 0141 276 0570.
 Stuart Stevenson has the chance for a quick game of golf at the new centre |  Basketball coach Stuart Rose gives John Paul McNab, 8, a helping hand |  Youngsters have a ball as they try out the new facilities |  Dylan Scott, 10, Temiri Sikharvlidze, 8, Ryan Thomson, 9, and Stuart Stevenson, 9, have a try at a game of rugby at the massive 7.6-hectare indoor complex in Toryglen | |
