A Fife football club is about to breathe new life into one of the oldest sports facilities in Glenrothes after fears it was about to be demolished.
News that Glenrothes Football Club secured a 20-year tenancy of Warout Stadium in a deal struck with Fife Council, the stadium’s owners, has been welcomed.
The club now has ambitious plans to bring the run down facility back into use creating a hub available for use by all sections of the local community.
Just two months ago the future of the stadium, which has been in use in Glenrothes since 1974, looked in doubt after council chiefs pulled the plug on previous tenants, Glenrothes Social and Recreation Club, after years of wrangling over rent disagreements.
It was feared the stadium would be sold off and the land used for a housing development after the local authority confirmed the site was back on the market.
However, Jamie Menellis, head of public relations for the football club, said their tenancy marks a new era for both the club and the town.
He said: “We’re delighted to have taken on the running of the stadium and associated pitches as part of our long-term strategy to put then football club at the heart of the community in Glenrothes.”
“As part of our five-year project, which has already seen the club move to the East of Scotland League, increase its youth set up and now secure the tenancy of the stadium, we now want to bring the social club and stadium facilities back into full use, not just for the club but for the whole community.
“This represents a new era for the club and Glenrothes.”
As well as implementing a long-term strategy to modernise the facility, the social club will open on a free to use basis for a range of local groups from Monday to Thursday, and operated as a social club from Friday to Sunday.
The football club has seen a huge expansion in its youth football set up in recent years and plans are already in place to launch a further four children’s teams in 2020 as well as to cater for the growing interest in women’s football and walking football for older age groups.
“We already mixed teams at junior level but we’d really like to have a women’s football team as well, “ said Jamie.
The move has be warmly welcomed by residents.
Alex Thomson, from Auchmuty & Dovecot Tenants Association, said: “I have no doubt the club will succeed in its plans to make the stadium a focal part of the community once again.
“This is fantastic news for Glenrothes.”
