East Shore Park to pass over into the hands of community

East Shore Park has been home to the football club for over 100 years.

Now, as part of a community asset transfer, the Council, current owners of the facility, have agreed to pass it to Newburgh Community Trust (NCT) who will manage it on behalf of the people of the town.

The East of Scotland League football club will continue to use the park with the NCT hoping its management, and the plans it has for it, will strengthen and further develop the bond between Newburgh Juniors and the people of the town.

The park and the clubhouse are to be made available to all with a well-managed programme already being planned which will include skills coaching for girls and boys and walking football for older residents.

Field sports and a host of indoor activities will also be organised at the ground.

These may take the form of cultural events or informal meetings while there are also plans to use great sporting moments from the past to help those with varying degrees of memory loss.

A club spokesman said: “The goal is to make the park home and to encourage football fans of all ages from the town and its environs to forge a bond with their local club and support a team who will truly be part of, and a contributing factor to, the life of a forward looking and very vibrant community on the banks of the Tay.

“The consequence of such a transfer of title are very exciting for both the club and community. ”

Funding for the venture has been made available by the Scottish Land Fund.

The club believes that another knock on benefit of having the ground in community ownership is that it will attract local youngsters to Newburgh Juniors.

Newburgh are working closely with grassroots football partners to provide a pathway into senior football.

At present there are two local youth teams and a newly established amateur team making use of the facilities at East Shore Park.

In recent years this pathway has provided a route for several local youngsters into the senior team.