National sports centre planned

Feb 21 2012

Scotland is to get its first national sports centre, which will include a football academy.

Sport Minister Shona Robison said £25 million from the Scottish Government's Young Scots Fund will be invested in the first National Performance Centre for sport.

The move is the first step towards meeting the commitment to provide a National Football Academy by 2016 although the centre will cater for other sports, with Ms Robison describing it as a "multi-sports centre with football very much at its heart".

A steering group, chaired by Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan, will take forward the plans. It will now set out criteria for local authorities who want to bid to have the centre located in their area, and will also set out a timetable for completing the project.

Ms Robison said: "Football is Scotland's national game and, building on our record investment in the sport, we want to build the foundations of future success for our national sides."

She said a key recommendation of a review of the Scottish game by former First Minister Henry McLeish is to establish a national football centre.

"Despite the challenges which Scottish football is facing, the Government's commitment to developing and improving our national game remains undiminished.

"Delivery of a new National Performance Centre is a key commitment and today's announcement is the first step towards delivery of that commitment."

She continued: "Backed by funding of £25 million from our Young Scots Fund, a youth talent initiative to give Scots a fair chance to realise their potential, the National Performance Centre will give sports men and women, including grassroots footballers, the chance to develop their skills, delivering a tangible legacy from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as well as building on our investment into elite athletes for 2014 and beyond."

Mr Regan said he was "delighted" to chair the National Performance Centre steering group. He added: "The commitment to the National Performance Centre is a hugely significant step forward not just for Scottish football but Scottish sport and culture."