Football clubs from around the world, including David Beckham’s LA Galaxy, could be attracted to Cupar by the creation of a new training centre.
Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a £1.5 million centre which would boast an indoor arena with full-size artificial pitch as well as an outdoor pitch.
Austin MacPhee, who says he already has interest from those in sporting circles and potential investors, reckons it would be able to attract professional clubs from home and abroad.
Indoor training facilities would encourage clubs to consider Scotland for pre-season training camps, he said.
The centre would also cater for amateur sides and the 500 local youngsters who attend Mr MacPhee’s AM Soccer School.
Mr MacPhee, who also runs a sports tours business, has worked with clubs including LA Galaxy, FC Barcelona and the United Arab Emirates national team.
He said, “We already have the clients and we are trying to get them to spend money in Scotland, but it is a hard sell because of the weather.”
Mr MacPhee is currently arranging a training trip for LA Galaxy and said, “They were interested in coming to Scotland but there were no indoor training facilities so they are going to Barcelona.”
The centre would be modelled on the Olympic Institute in Sweden, which Mr MacPhee visited with a group of promising young footballers he teaches.
He said, “They had a full-size indoor Astroturf pitch and fantastic facilities. I had the idea of building something similar here.”
Bemoaning the state of existing facilities in the area, he said, “This has come out of frustration and ambition.
“We need to create an environment where children can reach their potential.”
Mr MacPhee is looking at several sites around Cupar and is in discussion with Fife Council planners over the project.
He said, “We have been offered sites in Glenrothes, Leven and nearer Dundee but I’m very keen to build this close to the kids we work with now and increase the quality of what we achieve as a soccer school.”