glasgow sheep

Aberdeen City Council

Town House

Broad Street

Aberdeen

AB10 1FY

 

Our ref/ lmc_cpd/acc1

 

Dear Councillor, 20th August 2012

 

 

Subject: CALDER PARK COMMUNITY SPORTS COMPLEX

[This letter is issued on behalf of Cove Rangers FC and Aberdeen FC]

 

We refer to the full City Council meeting scheduled for 22nd August 2012 and in particular the motion being proposed by the Finance and Resources Committee to reject the proposal.

 

We request that this is reconsidered on the basis of the information that we outline below, alternatively at worst that only one element is granted, that is, an extension of time is granted so that we can carry out any further work required by the Administration and it’s officials, in conjunction with other parties e.g. SFA, Aberdeen Sports Village, etc;

 

Cove Rangers FC and Aberdeen FC have committed significant time, effort and cost in developing the business plan, facilities specifications and an operational strategy for the Calder Park community sports complex to the satisfaction of ACC officials and the former Administration, and as recently as January 2012 planning consent was approved for a revision of the facilities within the community complex to ensure that what was being built would deliver far greater benefit to the local community than the original plan. You may be aware that the Calder Park development site is zoned only for recreation and leisure and has been designed as part of the master planning exercise with the City Council and the John Muir Group over the past 3 years to be completely integral with the new AFC stadium development, and accordingly if the Calder Park project is stopped, then the new stadium is also killed off - as AFC is unable to implement their detailed planning consent because of stadium parking provisions and a shared second access within Calder Park. i.e. a 'no' vote will halt an estimated £40m reinvestment within the City, prevent the creation of further employment opportunities and have major implications on the future of AFC and Cove Rangers FC.

 

The main features, benefits and impact of Calder Park are identified below

 

1. The community sports complex will meet the need for top class sports, fitness and recreational facilities for the South of the City. This is an area with considerable growth planned, both housing and business over the next 15 years.

 

2. The enhanced sporting facilities will benefit each of the stakeholders i.e. local Kincorth, Altens, Cove communities, Cove Rangers FC and AFC.

 

3. Community facilities to be provided will be at no cost to the City Council, capital and/ or revenue because the project funding of c. £7m for Calder Park sports complex, along with all operational funding, will be provided via AFC / Cove Rangers FC

 

4. The provision of training facilities adjacent to the new AFC stadium will provide an opportunity for a step-change enabling AFC to expand and deliver their 'best-in-class' Community Program, together with the benefits this provides to the City [and Shire] Education, Health / Fitness and Drugs programs

 

5. Calder Park has significant importance to AFC's future youth development program, because bringing through our own top class young players via a youth soccer academy is the only way forward for the Club. The SFA have been aware - and have been very supportive - of our plans for Calder Park from the outset, and their CEO [stewart Regan] has now clarified the position they believe to be correct for the City of Aberdeen i.e. collaboration between the main stakeholders in the project.

 

6. The creation of training facilities, adjacent to the new AFC stadium will play a key role in AFC continuing to

attract International games, football and rugby to City - such as Pittodrie has done over the last few years,

but we will be unable to continue to do this because of more stringent UEFA stadium licensing requirements

in the future.

 

7. AFC currently has a 5-year business plan with the new stadium a central part of this plan. The delivery of a

new Stadium is a vital component to the Club’s future ambitions and vision for the future, and without the

prospect of a new stadium it is very difficult to see a bright future for the Club in the present economic

climate, where continued support from our bankers will prove very challenging to secure.

 

8. Cove Rangers FC currently operates under national club licensing requirements and they may not be allowed

to participate in the Highland League, and will certainly be denied the opportunity to progress in a

restructured Scottish football setup. A similar scenario exists also for AFC whereby unless AFC redevelops

Pittodrie to meet the required UEFA standards, which is neither fundable or viable (because of land

constraints), or AFC relocates to Loirston, there is a very high risk that AFC would be unable to participate in

European football unless we played such games in either Edinburgh or Glasgow, which is surely an

unacceptable scenario for the City of Aberdeen and/ or AFC supporters.

 

9. Discussions have taken place between Cove Rangers, AFC and Aberdeen Sports Village with a view to the

community sports complex at Calder Park being operated under the auspices of ASV, with potential

economies of scale available from a shared / proven infrastructure.

 

10. As previously stated at the outset of this letter, we would hope every Council member can see the merits of

voting in support of the proposal, and at the very least support an extension of time for this development, to

provide an opportunity for Cove Rangers FC and Aberdeen FC to come together with Aberdeen City Council

officials to review the current plans and facilities due to be delivered at Calder Park, with the aim of ensuring

that we collectively deliver the most appropriate sporting and recreational facilities for the main

stakeholders i.e. the local Kincorth / Altens / Cove and Loirston communities, Cove Rangers FC, Aberdeen

City Council and Aberdeen FC.

 

In view of the above information, we would respectfully ask each City Council member to fully consider the bigger

picture for Aberdeen when allocating their vote on this issue on the 22nd August. We also trust and expect that

there will be a free vote allocated to each Council member such is the overall importance of this development to the

local community, the iconic new stadium and the future of Cove Rangers FC and Aberdeen FC, both of whom add

considerable value and profile to the City in varying ways.

It is entirely inconceivable that the City of Aberdeen could be left without a professional football team participating

in the Scottish game in future, but this is precisely the potential outcome of a ‘no’ vote for the continuation of the

Calder Park sports complex development at the full Council meeting this week

 

 

Yours sincerely

Keith Moorhouse Stewart Milne

It seems the Labour council are intent on binning a number of projects (3rd Don crossing, AFC's new stadium, City Gardens Project).

 

No wonder nothing ever gets built in this city.  Its the same councillors who have delivered very little over the last 30 years that keep getting voted back in!

Labour were voted out last time after running the council into the ground and got back in, in part, due to their UTG stance.  Could spell disaster for the city given the mismanagement they inflicted on it in the past.

Re the Cove Rangers/Aberdeen stadium and training facilities at Calder Park, what is their objection to this?  They aren't putting any money into it as far as I'm aware.  Are there other developments associated with it they don't like?

wtf are the council playing at?

EE

ABERDEEN FC today launched a scathing attack on council chiefs Barney Crockett and Willie Young over Calder Park plans.

Aberdeen FC vice-chairman George Yule accused Labour leader Mr Crockett and finance convener Mr Young of “playing politics” with the club’s future and the future of professional football in the city.

Mr Yule lashed out as all 43 city councillors prepared to vote on whether plans to build training facilities and a community stadium at Calder Park – which would be used by the club and Highland League side Cove Rangers – should be approved.

The Pittodrie chief has personally delivered a letter, drafted by both clubs, to councillors asking them not to back council leader Mr Crockett and Cllr Young, who want the plans for Calder Park binned.

Mr Yule admitted a ‘no’ vote would also kill-off Aberdeen FC’s plans to move to a new stadium nearby at Loirston Loch and warned that would put the club’s ability to continue as a full-time club under threat.

If a room euro run was able to bring back a second champ league spot to play for (because there is only one next season in case you were unaware) then this, imo, would be worth it

It will take several yrs of that to gain a second European Cup place

AFC will be holding a roadshow at the Rock on Hyndland Road on Tuesday 18th Sept at 7pm.

Expected to be in attendance (tbc) will be Craig Brown, Ian Jack, George Yule and Chris Gavin.

Any and all Dons Fans are welcome and the event is free, but there will be a raffle for amongst other things a signed shirt and ball and a voucher for match tickets.

This is your chance to put across your views on how the club is being run and to question those in charge. Also a chance to remind the club of the size of, and dedication of the support down in Glasgow.

If you are thinking of heading along please reply here or email: glasgowunidons@hotmail.co.uk so we can give afc and The Rock a rough idea of numbers.

Look forward to seeing you all

Not been to Cappielow since the 80's...doubt it has changed much to be honest.

Probably not been there sober before, but driving tomorrow.

Any parking tips, other than hoping my car is still all there when I get back to it ?

I asked the very same on P&B:

There is a car park at Cappielow when you see the ground and the police turn left, the entrance is immediately on your left.

 

It's three quid to park.

 

On the way out, dont panic as you will be directed onto the main road in the opposite direction to Glasgow.

 

Just continue for a minute- there's a big roundabout at McDonalds which you can't miss- go round roundabout and back up to Glasgow!

or

If you're lucky you'll get parked by the dock just over the main road from the ground.

0-3 loss to Killie today

Apparently we were missing quite a few kids for various reasons, shame as two great results to start the season off with.

In

3-0

Vern

Only one on a Sunday jute, look closer

The Dons will face Greenock Morton in the 2nd round of the Scottish Communities League Cup on Wednesday. The match at Cappielow has a 7.30pm. KO

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult: £15

Adult concession: £10*

Children Under 16: £5

*Greenock Morton concessions apply to those over 65 years, students in full time education and those registered unemployed. Proof of eligibility should be shown at the turnstiles.

Please note this is a pay at the gate match.

The Aberdeen support will be located in the Wee-Dublin End. It is situation just off East Hamilton Street.

The turnstiles open at 6.45pm.

Please note the Aberdeen end is not undercover so please dress appropriately.

AFC Supporters Buses are requested to drop off supporters on East Hamilton Street. They will then be directed to James Watt Dock where they will park. All the buses will then be taken back to East Hamilton Street to pick supporters up at full time.

The nearest train station to Cappielow is Cartsdyke. (located right next to the stadium). Please note there will be no late night train back to Aberdeen from Glasgow.

Dons v Morton League Cup Record

Aberdeen have played (Greenock) Morton in League Cups encompassing 13 games and 60 odd years.

Our last game will live long in the memory of even those, who like me, watched the game on teletext.  Aberdeen raced to a 2-0 lead only to find themselves 2-3 down with seconds remaining. Cue a dodgy pen and hatrick for Dodds and extra time where Deano hit four to seal a 7-3 win.

We have to go back to 1974 to find a Morton victory when they won 3-1 in a sectional match.  AFC failed to get out  their Section that season with just 2 wins and a draw from 6 matches.

Overall League Cup Record

Played 13

Won 9

Drawn 1

Lost 3

The SPL today announced six live games to be shown on Sky Sports and ESPN in the coming weeks, including the Highland derby between Inverness and Ross County on Friday October 5.

Saturday September 15

St Johnstone v Celtic, 12.30pm - ESPN

Sunday September 23

Aberdeen v Motherwell, 12.45pm - Sky Sports

Saturday September 29

Aberdeen v Hibernian, 12 noon - ESPN

Friday October 5

Inverness CT v Ross County, 7.45pm - ESPN

Sunday October 7

Celtic v Hearts, 12.45pm - Sky Sports

Saturday October 20

Hearts v Motherwell, 12.45pm - Sky Sports

Notes

- Further selections are possible when the situation involving clubs in Europe becomes clearer.

 

- There are no live TV games scheduled for the weekend of September 1/2.

Just watched the highlights on RedTV

Few observations.

1) Some good goals and think we have some great young players coming through, even if just a couple of them make the step up the future looks promising.

2) Saints u20s looks as rotten as their first team squad

3) We desperately need to get our facilities sorted so we're not playing on a public park.  I see more of the u20 games are being played at the clubs main stadium now so perhaps it was only being played in a public park because of the ManU game the same night.

Thought Fallon was out for another couple of weeks??

 

 

I thought he was.

Looking forward to our first league goal and win tomorrow

COYR!!

Tickets for this weekend's match against St Johnstone will now be available to purchase at the McDiarmid Park ticket office from 2pm on Saturday.

No thread about this yet.  Looks like a disappointingly small Dons support but with so many games in a month I guess that'll have had an impact.

Looks like there will be cash turnstiles available after all.

As for the game, be interesting to see how we line up.

Hopefully we have someone playing on the left from the start unlike the bizarre formation against County where we had nobody infront of Naismith.

Problem is it means dropping one of Hughes, Rae and Jack.  Also wonder who will come in alongside Vernon. Paton probably deserves a run out.

Think McGinn and Fallon are both out so I'll go for:

Clangers

Ozzy Cadger Consi Naismith

Hayes Hughes Jack Milsom

Vernon Paton

Bench: Brown, Reynolds, Clark, Rae, Magennis, Fraser, Megginson (although I'd probably dump Clark for Shaugnessy and Magennis for McManus)

Folk on mad swaying he is going on loan

@brianoneil1972: Black getting booed by Scots fans.Takes me back to one Dons game!Wanted to tell them to eff off but didn't.Wud do now if I had the chance!

booooooooooooooooooooooo

Fuck me, almost taking the retards side here:

Daily Record banned from Scotland press conference

 

Scotland boss Craig Levein banned reporters from the Daily Record from entering yesterday’s press conference ahead of his side’s friendly against Australia.

 

The Record reports that the ban stems from Levein’s dislike of their coverage of his decision to select Rangers midfielder Ian Black. (Record)

Just hurry up and fuck off:

Green tells fan that agenda exists against club

 

Rangers chief executive Charles Green told a fan queing up outside Ibrox for a season ticket yesterday that there is an agenda against the Glasgow club and that he will continue to be outspoken in his criticism of the country’s footballing authorities.

 

He said that he expects to be continually fined and eventually banned for his comments.

 

The club also announced yesterday that close to 30,000 season tickets had been sold for its Division Three campaign.

 

(Scotsman)

Not interested in the rest of the UK since Wood's only offering up £50m to spunk in UTG.

 

Aberdeen's being ran into the ground.  To Let signs up the main street, the 'silver' grey buildings are turning green or black with dirt and foost.  Every other major city in the UK has had various states or rejuvenation, yet we can't lay a strip of tarmac on the outskirts, turf some sand dunes or raise a dark jakey garden out into the 21st century.  Absolute shambles.

 

This 'financial blackhole' thing won't wash with me I'm afraid.  Remind me, how many cities have done a Sevco because they tarted the place up a bit?  Wonder how many of those moaning about spending money also wishes Stewart Milne would do the same down Pittodrie?

So why spend millions on UTG and not on doing up Union St and knocking down the shopping centres that have sucked the life out of what should be the sparkling centre of Aberdeen?

And just because the weather isn't great all the time is hardly a reason to start destroying parks and green spaces, esp on the few anywhere near the city centre

6-0 win over St Johnstone today.

yikes!!

Are other teams playing a lot of inexperienced guys compared to us this season.  I know we have a number of new kids on the block but we seem to a fairly experienced nulceus to the team, and judging by Fraser, players more than capable of making the step up.

Edit and that is without Fraser or McManus who are on Scotland u19 duty

This.

And obviously I meant back to glasgow although probably a bit pissed heading up from glasgow too tbh

We were pretty drunk (and loud) heading back from Glasgow but nothing much was said to us.  Were joined by some Clyde fans at Montrose which made it even drunker and louder.

Didn't notice any difference to last season tbh

....and then hibs go and equalise through that wee scrote Griffiths

Hibs losing, again. Could be a recurring theme this year