Football clubs hail improvements to Ferguslie Sports Centre

Local football clubs have hailed the investment in Ferguslie Sports Centre after significant upgrade to its facilities by Renfrewshire Council.

Major structural changes have been undertaken to the changing room areas to enhance the dressing rooms, showers and toilets as part of more than half a million pounds of investment.

In addition, repairs have been carried out to the roof, the boiler has been replaced and rewiring of the venue has brought it up to modern standards.

Andy Brown, Thorn Athletic 2017s, said: “We have been very impressed with the new refurbished facilities at Ferguslie Sports Centre. The place is looking great now the works have been completed and our coaches, players and parents are all excited to take advantage of these in the months and years ahead. Well done to everyone involved in the improvements.”

Glenvale AFC use the facility as their home ground in Division Three of the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) and are excited to have their fortress back for the rest of the season.

Mary Cumming, Glenvale AFC Secretary, said: “We are delighted to be home at Ferguslie Sports Centre and look forward proudly to welcoming our opponents to the newly furbished facility. The changing rooms now open straight out onto to the pitch which gives the venue an even more professional touch to match days.”

The sports centre plays host to hundreds of footballers on a weekly basis, of all ages and abilities, including youth teams from Johnstone Burgh FC.

Mark O’Neil, Johnstone Burgh, said “We have been using the facility continuously throughout the refurbishment, but to now have the changing areas back with shower facilities and secure lockers for players is fantastic and makes such a difference for our preparation for training sessions.”

The upgrade is one part of a significant investment by Renfrewshire Council in its sports facilities, with a World Athletics standard running track and a Federation for International Hockey (FIH) standard hockey pitch installed at the On-X Linwood, new tennis courts installed in three Renfrewshire parks, and the reinstatement of sports pitches and a changing pavilion at St James Playing Fields.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “I’m delighted the works to Ferguslie Sports Centre are complete and local teams are seeing the benefit of the upgraded facilities. It’s a hugely popular venue and a vital locpart of the community, so it was important that we made the required improvements to the changing rooms and infrastructure. I look forward to seeing more and more people using the sports centre and taking the opportunity to play sport as part of healthy, active lifestyle.”

For more information on sport in Renfrewshire, visit www.oneren.org.