The Official Opening Of The Highland Football Academy

The Highland Football Academy, a £2.25 million project, was officially opened today by Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, after four years of hard work to create top class facilities for the Highland footballing community and to promote excellence in the game.

The Highland Football Academy Trust was established in April 2002 as a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered charity. It is a partnership between The Highland Council, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Ross County FC

The work was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 saw the construction of a floodlit grass pitch, outdoor training area and indoor arena at Victoria Park in Dingwall a fitness suite, a sports injury clinic, meeting rooms, offices and a learning suite.

Phase 2, which was completed in January 2006, involved the building of two high quality grass pitches, a grass training area and a floodlit new generation artificial pitch within the grounds of Charleston Academy in Inverness.

On officially opening the Academy, Julia Bracewell, Chair of sportscotland said: "We are delighted to have supported the creation of the Highland Football Academy with an award of £1 million from the sportscotland Lottery Fund. The sportscotland investment in this project demonstrates our commitment to investing in football over the length and breadth of Scotland, providing first class facilities and support services to develop our young footballing talent.

"This project is an excellent example of the co-ordinated approach to youth development in Scottish football. Not only will it have an important impact on the game nationally, increasing the number of talented Scottish players progressing to first team and national levels, but also in giving every young footballer the opportunity to be the best that they can."

The Highland Football Academy’s principal funders have been the sportscotland Lottery Fund, the Scottish Football Partnership, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, The Highland Council, Highland 2007, Inverness Common Good Fund, The Robertson Trust and Futurebuilders Scotland.

Convener of The Highland Council, Alison Magee said: The Highland Council is proud to be a partner in the Highland Football Academy Trust and look forward to it being the hub of football development across the Highlands. With these excellent facilities and by working in close partnership with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County football clubs, the Academy will be able to identify and develop young talent as well as promote health and fitness to the whole community."

Sandy Cumming, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "We are delighted to have been able to support this excellent project. It is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations work in partnership.

"As well as helping bring on the talents of our up and coming footballers, these fine facilitates have much to offer the wider community."

Colin Baillie and Jock Watt are Co-Chairmen of the Football Academy Trust. Jock Watt said: "We are delighted that this day has finally arrived. The development of the Highland Football Academy has been a most challenging project. Although there have been many difficulties to overcome along the way, the finished project has made the journey most worthwhile."

Colin Baille added: "If there was ever a question about the value of such facilities, then the use being made of them by a vast range of organisations from all levels of football provides the most telling of answers."