K-Park Training Academy

K-Park Training Academy is a training ground in the St Leonards area of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. It is located within the site of Calderglen Country Park. It is the home ground of Lowland Football League team East Kilbride.

K-Park Training Academy
LocationSt Leonards, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
Coordinates55.748595°N 4.150021°W / 55.748595; -4.150021
OwnerEast Kilbride Community Trust
SurfaceThird Generation synthetic pitches
OpenedMay 2011
Tenants
East Kilbride F.C. (2011–present)
Celtic F.C. Women (2015–2021)

History

K-Park was opened in May 2011 by the East Kilbride Community Trust (EKCT), who had previously drawn up plans that would give the large town a top-quality, UEFA-standard sports facility.[1] Former Rangers and Scotland footballer Ally McCoist, who is from East Kilbride, officially opened the first phase of the new facility on 25 September 2011.[2][3]

K-Park is used as the home ground for the newly formed football club East Kilbride F.C., who were founded in 2010, one year before the facility's official opening. They will play their first league matches at the venue before relocating to a proposed site near Langlands Golf Course.[4] The local rugby team East Kilbride RFC also train at the facility. K-Park was the home of Celtic Women from March 2015[5] until July 2021.[6]

Structure and facilities

It is mainly Third Generation synthetic football pitches that are at the facility, used by local clubs and clubs from the Scottish Football League. The parks are also easily convertible for rugby training.

The pitches at K-Park (of which there is one 11-a-side pitch and two 7-a-sides) are unusual, in that they consist of a mixture of quartz sand and rubber granules. This is to reduce the likelihood of an injury sustained or lower the impact of a fall, as well as allowing better ball control for the players that use the facility.

References
  1. Plans for football complex in Calderglen Country Park are on show, Daily Record, 21 October 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2022
  2. "The Official Opening of K-Park Training Academy". East Kilbride Community Trust. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  3. "McCoist to kick off the K-Park spectacular". K-Park Official Website. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  4. "East Kilbride Football Club announces plans to bring senior football to East Kilbride". K-Park Official Website. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  5. "New home will give Celtic women's team a platform for season ahead". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  6. Celtic reveal home ground for B team & Women's matches this season, The Herald, 22 July 2021
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