Robert Gordon’s College has launched a £3million Campaign for Sport to enhance
sporting opportunities for pupils and establish Countesswells Sports Campus as
a leading sporting hub for the wider North-east community.
The
campaign was officially launched at the Robert Gordon’s Gala Dinner at P&J
Live on Friday 4 September, marking an ambitious new chapter in RGC’s vision
for sport.
The
Campaign for Sport is about more than investing in facilities. It is an
investment in young people and the opportunities sport can create, helping
every pupil build confidence, develop resilience and discover a lifelong love
of fitness and wellbeing, while supporting talented young athletes to pursue an
elite performance pathway.
The
campaign has three priorities:
- Improving
access and infrastructure
- Enhancing
sporting facilities
- Developing
sports programmes and performance pathways
Kevin
Reynard, Chair of Board of Governors, said: "RGC has continued to grow and
develop, the College is stronger, our community is thriving, and we have seen
real progress across so many areas of school life.
"As we
look ahead, there are exciting opportunities for the College. We have real
ambition for what RGC can become, but realising that ambition means continuing
to invest in our facilities, our programmes and, most importantly, in our
pupils and the opportunities we give them.
"The
strength, generosity and engagement of our community will be central to what we
can achieve together. The Campaign for Sport is an exciting part of that next
chapter, creating opportunities for our pupils while also strengthening RGC’s
contribution to the wider North-east community."
The
delivery of this vision is being led by Stacey Hardie, RGC’s new Director of
Sport, alongside a strengthened coaching team. New appointments have been made
across athletic development, football, hockey, netball and rugby, while the
College is also expanding its offering in golf and racket sports.
The College
is also strengthening its partnerships beyond Countesswells, including a new
partnership with Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, which has moved RGC’s outdoor
cricket activity to Mannofield, creating a stronger pathway into the wider
cricket community. Work with Aberdeen Squash and Racket Club is also creating
new opportunities for pupils passionate about racket sports.
At
Countesswells Sports Campus, plans are underway to improve access and capacity,
including additional parking, improved traffic flow and a new exit onto
Craigton Road. Proposals are also being developed for a new 3G sports
surface and an indoor golf centre.
Stacey Hardie, Director of Sport, shared: "The new 3G surface will significantly increase year round capacity for rugby, football and multi-sport use, creating more opportunities for participation, training and competition. The indoor golf centre will provide a dedicated space for pupils to develop their skills and support the launch of a new golf programme. These developments will also create greater opportunities for schools, clubs and sporting organisations to use the Countesswells campus."
The campaign is already attracting significant investment. The Gordonian Association has become its first anchor donor, supporting the new Athletic Development and Fitness Suite at Schoolhill, which opened to pupils in August.
Meanwhile, a new Olympic-standard hockey surface was installed at Countesswells this summer, with Chris Clark and John Clark Motor Group supporting the next phase of this development through new team and coach shelters and an electronic scoreboard.
Robin Macpherson, Head of College, summarised: "These commitments from our anchor donors are not simply investments in facilities. They are investments in young people and in the future of sport across the North-east.
"Our ambition is for Countesswells to become a genuine hub for community sport, while giving every pupil the opportunity to get maximum benefit from their RGC sporting experience and supporting talented athletes to embark on an elite performance pathway with the facilities, coaching and support they need to achieve their personal ambitions - to be all they can be.
"This is the beginning of a long-term vision to create a lasting sporting legacy for the North-east."
Robert Gordon’s College is now inviting its wider community to play a part in making this vision a reality - through a financial gift, by becoming a Sports Ambassador or by helping to spread the word.
Every contribution can help create more opportunities for young people and make a lasting difference to the future of sport in the North-east.
Play Your Part. Shape the Future of RGC Sport.
To find out more about the Campaign for Sport, and how you can get involved, please contact the Advancement Team on +44 (0)1224 611236 or visit the Campaign for Sport webpage.