A SPORTS complex costing #4m is to be built on Glasgow's South Side following one of the largest ever awards from the National Lottery Sports Fund, it was announced yesterday.
The #1.9m grant for Holyrood Secondary School is being matched by money from Glasgow City Council.
The new complex, which will include an eight-court badminton hall, dance studio, creche, and a floodlit synthetic pitch, will be built in the school's grounds, but will be available for use by members of the public as well as pupils.
Scottish Office Sports Minister Sam Galbraith said the project would transform the sporting lives of pupils. He added: ''It is clear that this type of project is an excellent example of how the Lottery Sports Fund in partnership with Glasgow City Council can make a real difference to people's lives.
''I believe that the benefits of sport and physical activity make an impact on the health of our nation and this kind of initiative provides the ideal environment to encourage everyone to take part in and enjoy a wide range of sports.
''I am particularly pleased about this award because it will have a very positive effect on the local community as a whole.''
Head teacher Finbarr Moynihan said the project would provide much needed leisure facilities for the school and community, replacing existing sports amenities that were more than 60 years old.
''It will allow Holyrood, which is a high achieving school in academic, cultural, and sporting pursuits, to enhance and build on our notable successes in football, athletics, and netball, while developing many other minority sports to the benefit of a larger number of pupils,'' he said.
Mr Ken Corsar, Glasgow City Council's director of education, added: ''This is a tremendous boost for Scotland's largest secondary school and an exciting contribution to our plans to redevelop Glasgow's schools.''
The Scottish Sports Council also announced a range of other grants totalling almost #1m yesterday.
Among the awards were #516,000 for Fereneze Golf Club in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, to build a new clubhouse and upgrade other facilities, #61,000 for Motherwell Football Club towards a project to build a soccer sevens pitch, and #14,400 for the Scottish Sub Aqua Club to provide equipment and training.
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