Blantyre Soccer Academy set to expand following asset transfer of land from Council

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Blantyre Soccer Academy are set to expand thanks to another asset transfer of land from South Lanarkshire Council.The Lanarkshire football side, who train over 400 children at various age groups, a disability, women's and amatuer football teams, have bought over land at Birch Place in the town adjacent to their already established community hub at a price of £800.The 1943 square metres grassed informal open space will be used to extend their current community activities in partnership with other local organisations and create a community food growing area, wild growing area and outdoor recreational space.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Academy chairman Jimmy Whelan was delighted to acquire the land.

He told Lanarkshire Live : "Following another long arduous journey, we are pleased to have succeeded in our purchase of the land opposite our community hub in Blantyre. "Our outline plan is to fence off the area and create another more open community growing area to compliment our existing COVID Garden."South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) approved the deal at a meeting of their Housing and Technical Resources Committee last month.Back in 2019, SLC transferred ownership of the former Rowan Hall in Blantyre to the Soccer Academy at a price of just £1, from which it now operates a full-time community hub