This summer saw significant work take place at Ochilview Park with the installation of an upgraded Synthetic 3G Pitch as well as the commissioning and opening of a community changing pavilion. Both projects, which received significant support from The Scottish Football Partnership, have brought massive benefits to the professional and community sides of the club.
Jamie Kirk, Community Development Director for the club, commented “We simply couldn’t run the size of programme we have without the use of the artificial turf. We have over 500 children and adults playing recreational and team football every week as well as the First Team and Under 20 development squads. Even when it comes to half-time activities, we are able to welcome kids from the opposing teams to play on the pitch before the game and at half time against our youngsters. As the new changing pavilion is external to the home and away dressing rooms and the pitch is all-weather, we can now do much more with our local community. The new changing pavilion has made a massive difference too. Having the use of 4 brand new changing rooms and 2 shower blocks means that we can have much more going on at the same time – which is of course what we all want. The new pavilion is fully accessible and is an added benefit to our expanding disability programme.”
The club’s Chairman, Bill Darroch commented “Stenhousemuir F.C. is a progressive community focussed club which strives to provide the best facilities for the local community through to the professional game. Two years ago our astro changing facilities were badly in need of refurbishment. The costs of carrying out this work were very prohibitive but with the support and funding from The Scottish Football Partnership we were able to complete this work and now have an excellent changing facility which also allows us to offer facilities to local girls and women’s teams. Last year our main 3G pitch had reached the end of its 8 year life and had to be replaced. This was a massive project and one which had to be completed in the window between the end of season 2013/14 and the start of season 2014/15. Without the crucial support and funding from The Scottish Football Partnership, our 3G pitch project would not have been completed. We now have a top quality 3G pitch for professional football, community use and one which is capable of hosting rugby training and rugby matches.”
