Crime pays for Scottish clubs

A DOZEN rugby clubs across Scotland have shared £550,000 to improve their current rugby facilities, funded by a Scottish Government initiative using money seized from criminals.

Ardrossan Academicals, Ayr, Biggar, Cambuslang, Duns, Lismore, Irvine, Kirkcaldy, Marr, Paisley, Perthshire and Preston Lodge were announced yesterday as the successful clubs who will receive the first round of money from the fund.

Each club was successful in their application having shown a track record of growing the game at junior, youth and adult levels and have a different plan for each of their awards, such as introducing floodlights, refurbishing changing rooms or improving pitches.

The £550,000 comes from the £1.25 million rugby facilities fund which Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill announced in February this year. This was also announced alongside a £2.4m extension to the CashBack funding given to Scottish Rugby which is used to drive the growth of the game across Scotland in local communities.

Mr MacAskill said: “The excitement surrounding Scottish rugby is building as our national team prepares to kick off their World Cup campaign within the next two weeks. But international success can only be built on investment at all levels of the game, which is why the Scottish Government is committed to helping fund grassroots rugby through our CashBack for Communities programme.

“Since it was launched in 2007, Cashback has ploughed millions confiscated from criminals into development programmes for Scottish rugby, and this latest funding award will help 12 clubs across the country improve their facilities and allow that development to continue. Today’s grant awards, totalling more than £550,000, will allow 12 community clubs to improve facilities, meaning enthusiastic players at different levels of the club game can continue to help rugby move forward in Scotland.”

Scottish Rugby’s interim chief executive Jock Millican said: “We are delighted that 12 of our grassroots clubs have secured facilities investment funding through the partnership between Scottish Rugby, sportscotland and the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities initiative.

“This new investment will assist our clubs in enhancing their facilities for players, coaches and spectators and further support the growth of rugby across Scotland. I would like to thank the Scottish Government for its continued support of Scottish Rugby in helping us to continue to grow the game in Scotland at all levels.”

Recipients: Ardrossan Academicals £48,166; Ayr £48,000; Biggar £50,000; Cambuslang £50,000; Duns £50,000; Inch Park Community Sports Club and Lismore £50,000; Irvine £19,960; Kirkcaldy £50,000; Marr £46,620; Paisley £48,776; Perthshire £39,360; Preston Lodge £50,000.