18 October 2016

Footballers celebrate opening of new Catto Park pitches

Football teams from around Peterhead yesterday celebrated the opening of new sports facilities in the town as they took part in a mini tournament on the new all-weather pitch at Catto Park.

Teams from Peterhead Boys’ Club, Buchanhaven, Clerkhill and St Fergus primary schools came together on the new pitch to compete for an inaugural tournament.

The new all-weather pitch is part of an £800,000 upgrade of the Catto Park facilities carried out by Hunter Construction on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council which also included the replacement of the grass football pitch and the installation of new floodlights, fencing and drainage systems.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Cllr Alison Evison, said: “The all-weather surface at Catto Park was coming to the end of its life and the new pitch is a considerable improvement.

“We took on board comments from users of both pitches who said better drainage systems were needed and the new floodlights mean the pitches can be used even as the darker winter months draw near.”

Chair of Buchan Area Committee, Cllr Stuart Pratt, said: “These new pitches are a great asset to the Peterhead sporting community and the excitement around the football tournament showed just how much local teams were looking forward to being able to use them.

“I’m sure the lure of the new pitches will get both young and old out using them and I look forward to hearing about future tournaments that take place on them.”

During term-time, local schools will use the new all-weather pitch during the school day and it is available for groups until 10pm during the week and between 9am - 9pm at the weekends.

Bookings for the new facilities at Catto Park should be made through Peterhead Leisure & Community Centre (01779 477277).