Saints continue to work on the Rec to gain SFA membership

Following their move from the junior ranks into the East of Scotland Football League set-up, United are required to make sure standards are high around The Clayton Caravan Park Recreation Ground.

The club may not have played any games since mid-December, but that hasn’t slowed down the progress made behind the scenes.

The Scottish Football Association must be satisfied with several criteria around grounds to grant clubs membership and, with it, entry to the Scottish Cup.

A Saints spokesman told us that plenty of work has been going on at the Rec.

“Passers by will notice the recent addition of bulbs to the floodlight poles and they were switched on for the first time last Friday,” he said.

"Unfortunately, the bulbs were initially positioned in line with recommended factory settings that did not take into consideration the slope, camber and various little humps that are unique to the surface at the Rec. Local electricians Andy Little, plus Ian Cunningham & Son, returned with their cherry picker last Tuesday evening to realign the bulbs in the dark.”

Club officials still have to record light readings for the SFA and Saints will only gain membership of the SFA should these be satisfied.

DC Lighting from Dundee is due to measure the lux levels later this week, taking 88 readings in total, all over the park.

“Further to the work on the lights, the ground required a major facelift before Fife Council would consider issuing the annual safe capacity certificate,” added the spokesman.

"Euan and Ross Cameron spent a day and a half removing the old floodlight poles as well as repairing the spectator areas that were damaged by workmen erecting the floodlight columns.

"Ross has done a fantastic job with his digger and the committee enjoyed a morning spreading red chips from Balmullo quarry around the side of park.”

United are now waiting for the award of the certificate from the council to tick another box for their SFA membership application.

The club has received grants from the community trust and the common good fund to help with the work.