Ex Scotland stars Gregor Townsend and John Collins returned to their home town of Galashiels this month to help support the launch of the ‘Netherdale the Next Generation’ project. The campaign has been created by the working group of PMR Leisure, SFA, SRU, Gala Football Club, Gala Rugby Club, Borders Council and Borders College in a bid to drive the delivery of the first IRB 22 and FIFA 2* synthetic 3G pitch and a smaller 5-a-side 3G pitch at the Netherdale site. The project cost has been estimated at approximately £970,000. The NTDG group are hopeful of Council investment in the region of £450,000 with sportscotland and Hayward Trust providing the remaining funds required for the project.
Gregor Townsend, who has agreed to become the patron for the campaign, highlighted the importance of such a facility at the launch “I have had the privilege of playing on a 3G surface and believe we need one here if we are to develop sport in the Borders”. The facility would be the first of its kind in the Borders and would be one of the first synthetic pitches in Scotland to have both IRB 22 and FIFA 2* certification.
