A campaign to bring a football centre of excellence to the city will today receive the official backing of Dundee FC.
The Dark Blues are giving their support for the bid to bring the national football academy and national indoor football centre to Dundee.
The multi-million-pound centre, pledged by the SNP ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary elections, would provide a huge boost to any city.
Labour MSP Jenny Marra is spearheading efforts to bring it to Tayside, and will join Dundee chairman Stuart Murphy at Dens Park today where the club’s backing will be formally announced.
“I’m delighted that Dundee FC has thrown its weight behind the campaign,” she said. “The national football academy will be great for Dundee, for football at every level, for our economy, for the skills and health of our young people.
“It will give us a boost as the centre of youth football in Scotland, bringing in youngsters from across the country. The national football academy is a win, win, win for Dundee.
“Dundee FC knows the value that the academy could bring to all communities in our city. The club has football and our city at its heart. Their support strengthens our campaign to win the academy for Dundee.”
So far over 350 people have visited Ms Marra’s website (link) to register their support to bring the centre to the city.
The whole matter could easily turn into a political football however, with the decision on where the centre will be located resting with Dundee East MSP Shona Robison who, in her role as Commonwealth Games and sports minister, has overall responsibility for the project.
Club chairman Stuart Murphy said, “Dundee FC is delighted to back Jenny Marra’s campaign. We need to get as many football facilities as we can in Dundee to let us bring on homegrown talent.
“The more training and facilities we have here, the more likely it is that we’ll produce Scotland stars of the future in our city.”