From rugby for four and five-year-olds to badminton for the over 50s, football and tae kwon do:

Uddingston Community Sport Hub is going from strength to strength.

Since it set up three years ago, the number of sports on offer has gone up from six to nine and membership has increased for clubs across the hub by 14%, with a 50% rise in the youth-playing membership at Moorlands Football Club in the past year alone.

"There's no doubt, for the community there is a real benefit in having all these clubs on your doorstep," said Fiona Mathie, community sport hub officer at Uddingston.

A key component of SportScotland's contribution to the Scottish Government's 2014 legacy plan, Community Sport Hubs provide an exciting and innovative approach to the development of sport in local clubs.

They offer a home for sport and a place to get active locally, focused on the clubs around a sport centre, community centre, school, park or a playing field pavilion.

At Uddingston, the hub is based at Uddingston Grammar School, aiming to grow participation in local sports, engage the community, promote community leadership, offer a range of sporting opportunities and, most importantly, bring key people together.

"In Uddingston there's such a variety of different sport, gymnastics, hockey, even a seniors group, so there are benefits for all ages, and opportunities for volunteering as well," said Fiona.

"We want to get more people on board. At Calderglen and Stonelaw hubs last year we ran free taster events and between the two had 150 kids along. They were able to participate in different sports in one afternoon and have a bit of a try to see what they liked."

There are now more than 800 sports clubs involved in 133 hubs across the country, with more than 86,000 members, offering a massive 49 sports.

More than half of the clubs have seen their membership rise by 56% and 75% of clubs have seen their membership double between 2010/11 and now.

Now with its own website up and running, at www.uddingstonsporthub.co.uk, Uddingston Sport Hub also has a steering group made up of representatives from different clubs involved.

"We have also recruited two young pupils from the school that are young hub leaders and they will help to promote the hub within the school and look after the Twitter page," said Fiona.

After the phenomenal success of the Commonwealth Games, SportScotland is committed to building on the enthusiasm which was generated across the country to deliver a lasting sporting legacy, according to Stewart Harris, chief executive of SportScotland.

"With 133 Community Sport Hubs already up-and-running throughout Scotland, we are well on our way to reaching the target of delivering at least 150 by 2016.

The hubs are bringing people and clubs together to help build a clear framework for club sport, as well as developing strong links with schools, which is helping to create a world-class sporting pathway at all levels.

"It is wonderful to see the progress which is being made in hubs such as at Uddingston, and I look forward to seeing all the hubs continue to go from strength to strength."

angela.mcmanus@eveningtimes.co.uk