Community Football Trust to take over local sports complex in Castlemilk

Published: 1 May 2024

Castlemilk Community Football Trust was granted a 25-year lease for the Barlia Sports Complex at a council committee today (2 May). 

This off-market letting has been delivered through the People Make Glasgow Communities (PMGC) programme, where local people, community groups, third sector and other organisations can express an interest in having a greater involvement in the management of local venues.

Castlemilk Community Football Trust was granted a 25-year lease for the Barlia Sports Complex at a council committee today (2 May). 

This off-market letting has been delivered through the People Make Glasgow Communities (PMGC) programme, where local people, community groups, third sector and other organisations can express an interest in having a greater involvement in the management of local venues.

Castlemilk Community Football Trust has been occupying the complex since June 2022, and has carried out a series of improvements there, with Barlia being the home pitch of 24 football clubs, with 31 teams using the training facilities.  Free football camps are on offer during school holidays.

The complex is well-used by children, young people and families, presents volunteering and community engagement opportunities, and the Trust's aim to secure its future at Barlia led to their application to the PMGC programme for the lease.

The Barlia Sport Complex - which opened in 1992 - is a four-acres site featuring a club house and changing pavilion, a full-size synthetic football pitch, three five-a-side football pitches, two storage containers and a car park.

The complex was closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and the difficulties faced by Glasgow Life in reopening it led to a real desire for a transfer to community ownership.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets at Glasgow City Council, said: "The successful operation of the Barlia Sports Complex by Castlemilk Community Football Trust is another - and outstanding - example of what can be achieved through our People Make Glasgow Communities programme.  The Trust's commitment to improving the facility and working closely with the local community and a huge number of clubs to deliver something special bodes well for the future of Barlia."