THE DOORS of the new state-of-the-art Clydebank Community Sport Hub were officially opened last week after a £3.8 million investment.

The old playing fields at Dean Street in Whitecrook have been transformed into a world-class sporting facility for rugby, Gaelic football, football and a range of other sports and activities.

The hub boasts a full-size, floodlit, all-weather synthetic pitch, two redeveloped grass pitches, and renovated indoor sports and social spaces with room for clubs and community groups.

Councillor Iain McLaren, the council’s convener for infrastructure, regeneration and economic development cut the ribbon at the hub’s entrance.

He said: “The hub is a wonderful facility that simply can’t be matched in this area. The transformation of this site has been phenomenal, having gone from being almost derelict to offering an impressive range of facilities which will draw people from near and far.

“The regeneration of this site will bring huge benefits to Whitecrook and to Clydebank as a whole and these will be seen for generations to come.”

Councillor Marie McNair, vice convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, added: “This hub is about more than sporting facilities. It allows us as a council to help improve our residents’ health and wellbeing, gives us a space to engage with and educate our young people, and encourages volunteering and community participation.

“It has been an exciting time watching this development progress and I can’t wait to see the space in full use.”

The Calcutta Cup was on display during the opening event, and president of the Scottish Rugby Union, Dee Bradbury, and former Rugby Union player Al Kellock gathered alongside project partners, elected members and the Consul General of Ireland in Scotland, Mark Hanniffy.

The project was funded by West Dunbartonshire Council, the Scottish Government, sportscotland, the Gaelic Athletic Association, Cashback for Communities, Clydebank Community Sport Hub, Social Investment Scotland, Scottish Rugby, The Robertson Trust and Barr Environmental Limited, through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

A total of £90,000 of funding is being provided for revenue costs over the initial three years of operation by the Big Lottery Fund.

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “We are committed to ensuring sporting facilities such as the Clydebank Community Sports Hub are very much part of the fabric of the local community.

“We are always looking to help strengthen projects that enhance and extend the opportunities available to community users of all ages and abilities. We are delighted to have invested in this world-class sporting facility for Clydebank and look forward to working with our partners to ensure the project delivers a lasting legacy.”