DAVID Mundell, Conservative MP for Tweeddale, and Craig Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, have described Linton Hotspur F.C’s development as “inspirational” following a recent visit to the Club.
The Conservative politicians met with Club Chairman Campbell Forsyth and his father Neil Forsyth at the Football Club in West Linton.
The club was founded in the 1920s as one of Peeblesshire’s oldest football clubs. But despite best efforts to keep the club afloat, it was later forced to close in 1971 after a 12-2 defeat to Ferranti Thistle, who later evolved into Meadowbank Thistle, and subsequently Livingston FC.
In 2008, Linton Hotspur was re-established after a meeting in the Gordon Arms Hotel, shortly thereafter being admitted into Borders Amateur Football Association in 2009 before affiliating with the Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association in 2018. Meanwhile, the youth section has grown exponentially, achieving ‘SFA Quality Mark’ status, with a dedicated group of qualified coaches now providing weekly sessions to over 140 boys and girls from age 4 to 17, including a burgeoning girls group in excess of 40 players.
After obtaining long term security over their facilities in 2015, through the generosity of a local businessman, the club has continued to invest and develop their facilities, done so predominantly through the support and generosity of the local community. The facilities at New Moor Road now comprise a fully fitted pavilion and social area, seated enclosure with capacity for 66 people, open enclosure, changing and welfare facilities, with further improvements currently ongoing.
In total, Linton Hotspur provides weekly football to almost 200 boys and girls, men and women, with ambitions to develop the club further through floodlighting, an additional pitch and segregated changing facilities, and an artificial surface, with aspirations to achieve full SFA membership in the not too distant future. This would follow on from current endeavours to secure East of Scotland FA status, which would see the men’s team enter the Scottish Football pyramid for the forthcoming season.
Craig Hoy MSP and David Mundell MP have now pledged to actively support the club in any bids they make for external funding.
Craig Hoy MSP welcome Linton Hotspur’s recent progress, saying: “It was inspirational to see how much work has been achieved at Linton Hotspur by Campbell and residents from West Linton who have donated time and money to support the club’s recent development. Linton Hotspur offers fantastic opportunities for local young people and adults, and I am hopeful that funders will seize the opportunity and support the club in its continued upward trajectory given its substantial benefits for local people of all ages.”
David Mundell MP said: “It was great to have the opportunity to catch up with developments at the club and to hear first-hand about their plans for the future. Along with Craig, I will certainly offer any and all support that I can when it comes to attracting funding to help makes these plans a reality, for the benefit of the club and the community as a whole.”
Linton Hotspur Chairperson, Campbell Forsyth said: “We were delighted to welcome David and Craig to New Moor Road to hear about our journey, and our aspirations for the future. Our growth has been achieved through the support of our members and local community, as well as various local trusts who have generously contributed to our endeavours over the years. Should we be successful in our next phase of planned growth, we will require significant external capital investment and we are delighted to have the support of David and Craig as we engage with the relevant stakeholders and prospective funding partners.”
