Stunning new pitches opened at the William McIlvanney Campus
Two stunning synthetic sports pitches have been formally opened at the £45 million William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock, for school and community use.
The campus, which was formally opened formally in September 2018, will now boast some of the best sporting facilities in the local area and both pitches will be floodlit, allowing year-round use in late evenings and during the winter.
The full-size football pitch, which can also be used for rugby coaching, will form part of Kilmarnock Football Club’s Training Academy, enhancing the facilities they currently offer.
In addition, the adjacent half-size pitch will be used for football and hockey, offering outstanding facilities for the school, local sports clubs and the wider community.
Councillor Elena Whitham, Deputy Leader of East Ayrshire Council and Chair of the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust said: “The William McIlvanney campus is already establishing itself as a centre for learning excellence and I’m delighted these fantastic new pitches will augment the facilities on offer for pupils and the community.
“As well as being an acclaimed author, Willie had a deep love of education and sport and education and today’s opening blends those themes perfectly. I’m certain he would have loved what we have created in his memory.”
Brian McQuade, Managing Director of Kier Regional Building Scotland said: “Kier Regional Building has a wealth of experience in the education sector and the delivery of these fantastic new sports pitches provides the final piece in the new William McIlvanney Campus jigsaw puzzle - perfectly complementing the new education facilities and the McIlvanney Leisure Centre. These state-of-the-art facilities have already received huge acclaim and will be enjoyed by pupils, staff and the wider local community for generations to come.”
Outside school hours, the synthetic pitches will be managed by the William McIlvanney Leisure Centre, through the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust.
In addition to the pitches, the McIlvanney Leisure Centre boasts three multi-purpose sports halls offering a wide range of activities from basketball to badminton, a fully equipped fitness suite, dance studio, community facilities and class rooms and a host of exciting fitness classes.
Enquiries and bookings for all facilities and classes can be made by calling: 01563 535735.
Notes to editors
William McIlvanney was a former Kilmarnock Academy pupil, who became a teacher, before achieving global recognition for his writing. He died in 2015.
The multi-million pound state-of-the-art campus houses a leisure centre and three superb new schools:
- Kilmarnock Academy
- James Hamilton Primary School and Early Childhood Centre and
- Sgoil na Coille Nuaidh (New Woods School for Gaelic education).