FORMER professional footballers have changed their plans for a coaching pitch in Greenock’s East End, and now propose putting a roof over the facility and creating an office building.
Craig Molloy and David Barron, who are both from Greenock and played for St Mirren, have already been given planning permission to change the use of ground in the former Strone estate into a training pitch, with a dog exercise field beside it.
They have now submitted revised proposals for the site on the south side of the railway line on Kilmun Road.
The pitch would now have a roof structure/canopy over it to allow use throughout the year. The office would be used for administration and meetings. There would also be a storage container for equipment.
The changes need further consent from Inverclyde Council planners who are now assessing the revised application.
The fenced floodlit football training field is for one-to-one coaching. A statement submitted with the original application explained: “This custom-built facility would allow us a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap with many other major towns and cities across Scotland that offer similar professional coaching sessions within designated arenas.
“Combining our own experiences of being ex-professional footballers with now being qualified UEFA Licensed coaches gives us a skillset we feel would vastly benefit the young people of Inverclyde who dream of one day of playing professional football.
“Investing into a community we grew up in, that offered limited opportunities when we were children, is a huge driving force behind our proposal. We feel passionately that our own children as well as others within Inverclyde deserve to be given the same chances as others around Scotland to excel and succeed in life. Creating this facility would be a small step in the right direction to help achieve this for many aspiring young footballers within our town.”
“The site would be used for business purposes only and not available for let to the public. We would however be happy to liaise with local nurseries and community groups who could benefit from the use of the facility throughout the day without charge.”
The 20×80-metre, fenced and floodlit dog exercise field will be open from 7.30am to 9.30pm, with half-hour slots booked via a website.
A supporting statement explained: “We feel the proposed dog field would bring excellent benefits to the dogs, their owners and the local communities of Inverclyde.”
Permission was given last year for land to the north of the railway line to be used for a workshop complex and allotments.
