Published Date: Dec 21st, 2023
Plans for a new community-led 3G synthetic pitch at Den Road in Kirkcaldy have moved a step closer.
Members of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee have agreed to allocate the Kirkcaldy Community Football Partnership Scottish Charitable Incorporate Organisation (KCFP SCIO) £159,000 towards the project, providing the partnership is able to secure full funding.
The money will come from the Area Capital Improving Health Through Leisure & Sport fund. 
Convener of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee, Councillor Ian Cameron, said: “I’m delighted with the committee’s decision. This will be the first community-led 3G synthetic pitch, outwith the areas’ education and sport and leisure facilities.
“As a council we’re committed to creating healthy connected communities, where people thrive, have enough money, and contribute to a sustainable and attractive environment and this project is a perfect fit.
“A lot of work and consultation with colleagues across the council and other partner organisations, including NHS Fife, has taken place, and it’s a proposal that was actually initially agreed in the Kirkcaldy Charette from 2013 so it’s great to see this being realised. Further consultation will also take place with immediate neighbours and residents to make sure they’re also happy with the plans.
“The overall cost of the project is estimated around £900k which I know the club is working hard towards securing.
“This facility will benefit the Kirkcaldy area in a number of ways including improved access to community football facilities as well as providing a place for football camps, free play, coaching opportunities, and somewhere other sports clubs and schools in the area can use.
“As many locals will know there is also an issue with flooding in this particular spot so this project will also help to resolve this.”
Kirkcaldy Community Football Partnership is a community focused, Scottish Football Association (SFA) Quality Marked football club that provides a player pathway for boys and girls from children through to adults.
KCFP was formed in 2019 and brings together Kirkcaldy YMCA FC, Dysart AFT, Templehall United FC Kirkcaldy FC and from the 2023/24 season, Kirkcaldy Inter. As a result, the YM, after 50 years changed their name to Kirkcaldy & Dysart FC and now play under this name in the East of Scotland 1st Division.
Over the four partner clubs there are nineteen age groups both male and female involving over 400 people from the various player pathways.
Robert Main, KCFP SCIO Chairperson, welcomed today’s news, saying: “We’re over the moon with today’s decision.
“We agreed a 25-year lease from Fife Council for the use of Denfield Park in Kirkcaldy a couple of years ago. The lease covers three areas of grounds including a pavilion, outbuildings, and ash park. The two natural grass pitches are used by Kirkcaldy & Dysart FC as well as the other associated groups which come under the KCFP SCIO.
“At the moment we, or any of the other groups, tend to hire pitches elsewhere for football but due to the increasing demand in the area for these, we asked Fife Council if they could help us make our dream of creating a new full size 3G synthetic pitch, including floodlighting, adjacent to the existing grass pitch, a reality.”
“There’s still a lot of work ahead to secure the rest of the funding but we’re confident we can do this.”
KFCP SCIO intend to apply to a number of other funding sources including the Department for Culture and Media (DCMS)/Scottish Football Association (SFA) grassroots football fund in February 2024. This can fund up to 50% of the project.
It’s hoped that all funding will be in place and work will begin on the new 3G synthetic pitch in Summer 2024 with a view to it being opened during the 2024/25 season.
Photo caption: Left to Right - Stewart Wilson, Match Secretary; Convener of the Kirkcaldy Area Ctte, Cllr Ian Cameron; Jill Walker, Secretary and Robert Main, KFCP SCIO Chairperson.