Big cash boost for Kingussie shinty ground redevelopment
A major breakthrough in funding has set Kingussie Camanachd on the road to its much anticipated 2017 upgrade.
"The club has just heard that our funding application to Leader has been successful," said club president Russell Jones.
And today (Thursday) the club launches a new fund-raising website to raise the rest of the funds it needs to turn the Dell into a ground fit for national finals.
Since purchasing the Dell six years ago, the club has carried out various improvements including a highly effective stop-ball fence and a cafe.
Quite apart from providing refreshments and shelter, the cafe has proved the highly significant point that the flood plain which the ground occupies need not preclude serious upgrading of the facilities down by the Spey.
This week’s confirmation from Leader - the Scottish Government’s "Links Between Activities Developing the Rural Economy" - has brought sheer delight to the club which not so long ago ruled the roost in the shinty world and which has recently been steadily restoring its fortunes on the pitch.
"We’re highly to announce that the Leader Fund has awarded Kingussie Camanachd Club £106,913 towards the 2017 project to upgrade the Dell," said the club president.
The project total is £136,913
The club has also secured two other grants towards the upgrade.
The Highland Council ward discretionary fund and the Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust have both lent their backing to the project, to the joint sum of £14,300.
Today’s launch is aimed at pushing the club on to the final £10,000 that’s required to finish the job.
The new website is called www.kingussiedellupgrade.com
It can also be accessed from a link in the club’s Facebook page.
There will be several ways to make a donation, including Just Giving Crowd Funding and a shop which will sell named bricks which will form part of the new grandstand.
The bricks will cost £100 for individuals and £1,000 for businesses.
"It is a big, exciting development for the club," said Mr Jones, "and a one-off opportunity for us to bring the venue at the Dell up to modern standards."
"Since buying the Dell in 2010 the club has had an aim of improving the venue so that it will be possible for the club to apply to host national finals. This great news from Leader could make it all possible."
Fellow committee member and club historian John Robertson told the Strathy: "It’s fantastic news from the Leader Fund. If we can raise the last £10,000 from our supporters and players then the whole upgrade can go ahead."
LEADER, a grassroots method of delivering support for rural development through implementing local development strategies, had clearly been impressed with the way things had been shaping up at the Dell and the promise of major improvements for players, visitors and home supporters.
A 100-seater grandstand, planned for the home side, would bring the historic club right into the 21st century, as will a top-of-the-range sit-on mower.
Tea rooms are planned to replace the dugouts on each side of the ground and a tarmac road will made life easier for motorists.
The club will also bring in mains electricity for both the cafe and a state-of-the-art scoreboard.
"The Dell is already considered to have the best playing surface in Scotland," said Mr Jones, "and the club is aiming to have the facilities to try and match the standard of the pitch."
