RUGBY legend Brian O’Driscoll has become the latest big name to back a campaign to upgrade the outdoor sports facilities at Gryffe High School, writes Jack Thomson.
The former Ireland international has followed ex Rangers footballer Ally McCoist, actor James Nesbitt and retired Scottish rugby star Kenny Logan in supporting the cause.
A petition kickstarted by amateur team Houston United is calling on Renfrewshire Council to overhaul the run down 3G and red blaes surfaces at the school on Old Bridge of Weir Road.
In a video O’Driscoll said: “We need to upgrade the outdoor sports facilities at Gryffe High School so please sign the petition… Do it.”
READ MORE: James Nesbitt joins Ally McCoist in fight for new pitch at Gryffe High School
Alasdair Burns, a coach at Houston United, said: “Brian O’Driscoll heard about our campaign and is fully supportive of it.
“He is a former professional rugby union player who captained and played for Leinster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions over a period of 15 years.
“He knows the power that sport has in creating healthy lifestyles and vibrant communities and fully backs our campaign to upgrade the outdoor sports facilities.”
The council has already said it is working on its school estate management plan and facilities that are in most need of upgrading will be presented at May’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board.
Alasdair went on to stress the importance of schools in Renfrewshire providing high quality facilities for their pupils.
He added: “Greater investment in physical education has the potential to improve school engagement, academic attainment and influence our children to follow a healthy lifestyles for the rest of their lives.
“Our schools are major providers of sports facilities and it’s important that children have access to good quality sports facilities and that the investment in such facilities is fully maximised by allowing them to be used by the wider community.
“We urge the chief executive of Renfrewshire Council to commit to finding the necessary resources to upgrade the outdoor sports facilities at Gryffe High School as part of the estate management plan due to be presented in May.”
READ MORE: Rangers legend Ally McCoist boosts pitch campaign
A spokesman for the local authority previously said: “School sports facilities are made available to community sports teams through Renfrewshire Leisure. Gryffe High School has outdoor facilities of a 3G artificial football pitch, 200m running track and a hockey pitch available for community use, as well as an indoor sports hall and gymnasium.
“We are developing our school estate management plan which will be presented to our education board in May and this will include prioritising any key upgrades to school facilities in most urgent need.”
The petition is available at here.
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