Killie FC KOs Girdle Toll youth ground

Aug 8 2008 by Lex Brown, Irvine Herald

YOUTH football teams fear being kicked into touch after North Ayrshire Leisure welched on their training schedule in favour of Premier League Kilmarnock.

Girdle Toll youth team were told to find somewhere else to train just hours after they had booked the Almswall Road pitches in Kilwinning.

Furious Girdle Toll president, Mr Wilson, fumed: “Why is an East Ayrshire professional club – who built a hotel on their training ground – taking precedence over youngsters from North Ayrshire?

“Almswall Road is run by North Ayrshire Leisure funded by North Ayrshire Council for the benefit of the people of North Ayrshire.”

He added: “If this is happening to us, then it must be happening to other clubs.

“Killie’s boys teams, including their professional youth side, have practically taken the entire Almswall Road facility away from the local community.

“The teenage sides have booked it solid from October to March, and as well as the training slots they’ve got it sewn up for games from ten in the morning right through to 5pm or 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Why can’t they use facilities like Grange Academy in East Ayrshire.”

The Irvine team have almost 200 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 15 on their books.

They can’t use facilities at Lawthorn because the pitches are unplayable and the dressing rooms are out of commission.

Kilmarnock Football Club said they had worked closely with the Central Ayrshire Youth Football Association for many years.

A spokesman said: “We provide them with community coaches to help with training and send players to attend boys’ club events and prize-givings.

“We also distribute thousands of complimentary tickets to clubs wishing to attend matches at Rugby Park.”

The spokesman went on: “We have always understood that the Kilwinning sports complex was happy with the association and the financial contribution we make.”

He added that Killie would consider alternative facilities when work on two new schools in Kilmarnock was complete.

North Ayrshire Leisure claimed they had resolved the matter, but Mr Wilson said no agreement had been reached.