FOOTBALL boss David Moyes is giving back to the Glasgow park that helped shape his career...by donating more than £10,000 into a sports project.

 

The former Celtic player, who is manager of Spanish side Real Sociedad, is backing Broomhill Sports Club' (BSC) plans to deliver a range of sports from the pavilion in Victoria Park.

Mr Moyes, who has previously been manager of Preston, Everton and Manchester United, got behind the project after his brother Kenny, who is head coach at BSC, told him about their plans.

The money will fund coaches to deliver free sessions to children and adults. It will include football, netball, basketball, badminton and park games.

Speaking from the Basque Country where he revealed he was "very much" enjoying his job, Mr Moyes said: "I am and always will be an active ­advocate of more sporting facilities.

"Since the Commonwealth Games was such a fantastic event in Glasgow we cannot shut the door on more progress.

"We have two top European football teams in the city, not to mention Partick Thistle which are all fantastic institutions and should be celebrated.

"When I drive round Glasgow now I remember all the football pitches we had; Glasgow Green, 50 pitches in Govan, Dalsetter in Drumchapel and we only have a fraction of that number now. We need more facilities."

Mr Moyes said Victoria Park was "fantastic" when he was growing up.

He said: "I was born just 500 yards from the park in Whiteinch.

"I spent a lot of time there with my parents and my Gran and when I was in Thornwood.

"I played one of my first games of football on the blaes pitches in the park for the Boys Brigade."

Mr Moyes added: "If we have more sport in the park then at least we can give the next generation of kids the chance."

BSC Chairman Steve Prince said: "Although most of David's football career has taken him away from the city, he still ­remains a proud Glaswegian.

"As such David is keen to join his brother in efforts to put something back into a city that has given him so much."

Members and coaches of the club, which now has more than 750 members, have become frustrated using facilities across the city and say they need a base.

Mr Prince said he hoped the project would eventually be rolled out to all parks.

He said: "We'd like to see ­every park have a community sports club using it like we're planning to do at Victoria Park."

Discussions with Glasgow Life have already taken place and BSC hope they will be given the green light to take their project forward.

If they do, coaching sessions are likely to begin next month.

A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: "We would be interested in developing any potential areas of joint work with Broomhill Sports Club that would help increase levels of physical activity subject to local consultation."

Meanwhile, BSC's proposals to turn the former blaes pitches in the park into a football pitch are being considered along with plans by the Friends of the Victoria Park for a community orchard, and another to grass over the blaes area. A public consultation ends on February 27.

Mr Prince said they would ­integrate the pitches plan with the project if it was chosen.