THERE were smiles all round at the home of rural football club Symington Tinto this week.
Special training sessions, matches, a buffet reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony were part of official opening celebrations for showpiece new 3G floodlit pitches.
A game-changing £400,000 award from the UK Government helped secure the all-weather artificial grass surface.
Other major large backers included the SSE Clyde Wind farm and SFA Grassroots Pitch and Facilities Fund.
The spacious site at the village of Symington, at the foot of Tinto Hill, near Biggar, has been home to the football club for more than seven decades.
Getting into the spirit of the event on Monday, local MP David Mundell and Scotland Office Minister John Lamont tried out the new surface and scored a few goals bringing a smile to the faces of young onlookers.
Mr Lamont also cut a celebratory ribbon watched by other guests, footballers and Symington Tinto AFC officials.
As well as the senior team, the spacious ground is also home to eight youth teams.
Mr Mundell praised the volunteer committee and coaches for their efforts in taking the project forward, adding the improvements were a major boost to the sporting infrastructure network across Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
He said: “This is a fantastic facility and I gather from some of the local footballers it is an excellent place to improve all-round health and fitness with good coaching, combined with the inspiring sight of Tinto Hill on the horizon.”
