New sports facility could leave youth football teams without pitch

A new sports facility being proposed in Aberdeen could actually end up leaving youth football teams without a place to train, a local club has warned.

Plans have been outlined for the fourth Cruyff Court in the city's Kincorth, which would offer 24-hour access to a small-scale, all-weather football and basketball facility.

Proposals to be discussed at an Aberdeen City Council (ACC) meeting on Tuesday outline a preferred option for the location of the court - on a playing field in the area - at an estimated cost of £750,000.

But Kincorth AFC and Kincorth Emirates Youth said that would lead to the loss of a pitch used by hundreds of children.

There are hundreds of Cruyff Courts around the world and the idea was set up by the Johan Cruyff Foundation - founded by the Dutch international who died in 2016.

They aim to give children a safe place that encourages them to play outside.

A report to go before ACC's finance and resources committee outlines the preferred location as being at the back of playing fields currently home to a number of football pitches.

Kincorth AFC and Kincorth Emirates Youth's Andrew Ewen told BBC Scotland News the plans would be a massive blow to the club, with over 200 local children playing and training each week.

He said the preferred location for the court would mean having to reconfigure the existing football pitches, meaning the nine-a-side pitch for younger players would have to go.

He added: "They might end up losing a team because there won't be a pitch for the players.

"If that pitch goes at the back, then there's no nine-a-side pitch anymore, so where are they playing?"

"We are already struggling for space, I just cannot get my head around it.

"We have taken 200 kids off the streets and they are trying to take it away from us when there could be an easy resolution."

Ewen urged ACC to "talk it out" with the football club as he believes the Cruyff Court would be a good facility for the community - but not in the location proposed.

"Kincorth is a deprived area, so there is nothing in the area at all," he said.

"It is a great concept but where they are putting it is totally wrong.

"That pitch has not been moved for 40 years.

"Until they give us a valid reason why they won't just work with us, then we are going to fight it as much as we can."

The report, which outlines various location options said the preferred site was chosen after "taking account of the technical appraisal, community engagement and stakeholder input".

It did, however, say "a very limited buffer zone" to neighbouring residential boundaries was a significant concern and could lead to challenges in getting planning consent.

The paper goes on to say the proposed courts could enhance the current usage within the park with "minimal impact on the existing users".

A petition against the plans has more than 1,000 signatures, but a council consultation found 45 people "liked" the preferred option, with 27 votes against.

The finance and resources committee are being recommended by council officers to approve the outline business case for the plans next week.