'Game-changing' £1m investment for Glasgow's Castlemilk

Already, however, around 50 children are mid-game, happily getting drenched as their coaches - in varying stages of sogginess – shout encouragement from the sidelines.

“It says a lot, the fact so many kids have turned up despite how wet it is,” agrees John Harkins, charity manager at Castlemilk Community Football Trust (CCFT).

“There is nothing else in the area any more, really – even the swimming pool is shut every weekend, and local clubs charge per child, which mounts up.”

CCFT has just received a triple whammy of good news.

Its bid for Community Ownership Funding was successful, which means it has been awarded £424,303 towards its pavilion refurbishment project.

The Scottish Football Association and Glasgow City Council are providing grants totalling more than half a million pounds to replace all three five-a-side pitches and the 11-a-side pitch, and install state of the art LED floodlights and a spectator barrier.

And its long-lease to be able to run the complex for the next 25 years has just been signed off by the council.

“It’s all great news,” says John.

“We still have a bit to go to secure the balance for the pavilion works, about £200k, but we are hopeful that some of the grants we are applying for at the moment will be successful."

He adds, smiling: "That’s a massive £1m coming in to the Castlemilk community, which is something to be proud of.”

The complex is operated by CCFT through the People Make Glasgow Communities programme, which allows individuals and groups to manage public assets.

Its future was in doubt in March 2020, when the pandemic forced it to close. It was briefly used as a vaccination centre but after restrictions eased, the centre stayed shut.

“They even took the goals away,” says John, simply. “It was clear the place was not going to re-open.

“The 2020 Euros were coming to Hampden, and it stuck in our throats that there was all this talk of legacy, but two miles away from the national stadium, a place which had been a home of community football was lying derelict. That was the catalyst for the Save Our Pitch campaign.”

After a spirited campaign, CCFT were finally given the keys to the complex from owners Glasgow Life.

“We got the keys, came in to find everything in a complete mess, and nearly handed them back,” jokes John.

“It was horrendous – weeds and broken glass everywhere outside, a mess inside…but so many people and companies from the community turned up to help, it was amazing.

“Everyone jumped through hoops, cleaning, weeding, jet washing, painting, you name it.”

John adds: “We did a consultation and what people were saying was pretty clear – it’s got to be more than a football pitch. So we’re trying to make it a social place, somewhere that has a range of things on to help local people, their physical and mental health, a free place for the weans to play.”

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Since re-opening the venue, CCFT has hosted more than 650 full matches, provided a home pitch for more than 80 teams and thousands of midweek training sessions for 18 Castlemilk and Southside clubs, and delivered more than 60 free holiday football camps for local children.

Staffed by a small team of paid, part-time sessional staff and volunteers, and overseen by a board of trustees, it now welcomes around 1000 local people each week.

Volunteer coach Tam Simpson is watching his son Alfie, eight, playing in the rain. His daughter, Tammin, 16, is already planning to run a dance class once the pavilion has been restored.

“This place is the lifeblood of this community,” says Tam, firmly. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. When it shut, it was really tough. John has been the driving force in getting it open again.”

He adds: “It’s also changed my life. I did my coaching badges here, and I love coaching here every week."

Also coaching today are taxi driver Ryan McMillan, and school support assistant Derek Reid, who runs Little Dynamos football academy.

“If the centre had not re-opened, we’d have lost everything we have built up,” says Derek. “Castlemilk’s a great community to be part of, but it needs a bit of support. This is a great investment.”

Ryan agrees. “You only have to look out there today and see the response to know how enthusiastic everyone is about the pitches.”

Young star-players-to-be Flynn Topper and Kayla Reid are impressed by the plans for Barlia.

“I’m here almost every day, it’s a really good facility,” says Flynn, 11, who plays in goal.

“It brings people together.”

Kayla, 10, who plays left back, says: “I really enjoy training here, it’s one of the best pitches in Glasgow.”

John Harkins says the whole team at CCFT have put their “hearts and souls” into saving the complex.

“It means a lot to local people,” he says. “And yes, we are celebrating, because this is a game-changing investment.”

He pauses. “But we also realise the hard work is just beginning.”