Newmachar United's new pitches plan progresses
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The continued popularity of a north-east football club has seen long held plans to progress new facilities take a leap forward this week with the submission of plans for new pitches at Goval next to the A947.
Newmachar United FC Chairman John Matthew said: "Forty years ago Newmachar Juveniles who soon renamed to Colts started playing competitive football in the Aberdeenshire league with only one team competing and playing at the primary school grounds.
"By 1993 the Charlie Gordon pavilion was built and the Colts combined financial support with Newmachar Utd Amateurs along with funding from
"Aberdeenshire Council and Sports Scotland and a new home venue was secured with the club now servicing three juvenile team and also affiliating to the now ADJFA Aberdeen and District Juvenile Football Association.
"In 2008 the senior team Amateurs and the juveniles Colts merged to become one Club Newmachar Utd bringing a player pathway to adult football and again adding another senior section at semi professional level - Newmachar Juniors in 2010.
"It continues to grow and at present there are 10 age groups from 2005s to 2016s."With the club having more than 250 members 56 registered club officials comprising of committee members fundraising sub committee members coaches(managers) assistant coaches team secretaries first aiders and team helpers it secured the SFA Quality Mark Silver Award and in 2016 became a registered charity."
At present the club play at Charles Gordon Park, which is on a 25 year old lease from Aberdeenshire Council.
The facilities include an 11 a side pitch and changing pavilion, which five teams use on a Saturday and Sunday during the season, and again on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of April, May and August for midweek games.
The club also rents Reisque Park on an annual basis from a local landowner, which is adjacent to Charles Gordon Park and six teams use this for matches during the season and for training between April and September.
Due to lack of capacity at Charles Gordon Park the Amateur team hires a pitch at Garioch Sports Centre to play their competitive matches.
Given the extensive use of the facilities all competitive teams have to find training areas during preseason between June and September and the demands placed on the current pitches require a high level of maintenance.
The pitches do not comply with Scottish Youth Football Association Development Football standards and there is only one training pitch and no room to provide additional pitches for training of different age groups to take place simultaneously
Along with slow recovery times from use and drainage issues, these factors have led the club to seek an alternative site to provide new training and match day pitches that comply with Scottish Youth Football Association Development Football standards.
As no such sites exist within the town of Newmachar that will provide these facilities it is intended to move the training provision to an alternative site outside of the town but within easy reach of the community.
Extensive work over several years, including continued fundraising by the club and its members, including a recent Moray Way Ultra (100 Miler) run in June by Kevin Motram which raised over £3000 has now put the committee in a position to bring the application forward.
Plans show the site to the east of the A947 will have two full sized pitches along with a parking area and containerised provision of changing rooms, toilets and a referees office.
