Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) has started building a third community pitch at Cormack Park, the training facility it shares with Aberdeen FC, in a project representing an investment of approximately £1.2 million.
The new pitch will let the Trust expand its recreational and developmental football programmes, with a particular focus on increasing participation amongst underrepresented groups. It will also give local grassroots clubs much-needed access to high-quality facilities and add capacity for Aberdeen FC's growing girls' and women's football programmes.
The project is funded through the Pitching In Fund, supported by the UK Government, alongside the Scottish FA through its Member Support programme, the Scottish Football Partnership Trust and significant additional investment from the Cormack Family Foundation. When the funding was announced on 30 September, the Trust said it expected the pitch to be completed in spring 2027.
AFCCT Chair Matt Nicol and Chief Executive Peter Davidson marked the start of work with Aberdeen FC Chairman Dave Cormack and Fiona Cormack, who represented the Cormack Family Foundation.
The pitch is phase one of a wider plan. The Trust wants to build an indoor football dome at Cormack Park as phase two, and a concrete ring beam is going in around the new pitch now so the site is ready for it. The dome would give an all-weather space where programmes can run all year. The next step is to secure planning permission.
Peter Davidson, Chief Executive of AFCCT, said: "We're incredibly fortunate to share such a fantastic facility with Aberdeen FC, and this additional pitch will allow us to grow our recreational and developmental football programmes while also providing local grassroots clubs with much-needed access to high-quality pitches."
He added that the dome "could make a huge difference to the opportunities available for football across the North-east, particularly during the winter months."
Fiona Cormack said: "We've seen the difference the Trust makes to people and communities across the North-east, and we want to help them reach even more people through the power of football."
For the sport for good sector, it is a reminder that access often starts with space: more pitch time means room for new groups, local clubs and the girls' and women's game to grow together.