A new home for football in Banchory
If you’ve passed Tillybrake recently, you’ll have seen how quickly things are taking shape and how this space is beginning to change.
What’s being created here is more than a football pitch. It is a facility for the whole community, designed to give young people in Banchory a place to play, train and develop throughout the year.

Why this is happening
For a long time, Banchory has been the only town in Aberdeenshire without an all-weather pitch, which has meant regular cancellations during the winter and frequent travel to other towns just to keep football going.
At the same time, participation has grown significantly, with more than 500 children now involved, including a growing number of girls. Making the game more accessible locally is an important part of supporting that growth.
For many families, particularly in a rural area, the cost and time involved in travelling to training and matches can also be a barrier, and this project helps reduce that.

What’s being built
Banchory Community FC is developing a full-size all-weather pitch at Tillybrake, alongside modern lighting and improved drainage.
This will allow football to take place locally and consistently, without being affected by the weather in the same way it is today.

How it is being funded
This project reflects years of work to improve football facilities in Banchory.
While the town would not normally meet the criteria for national funding programmes, the condition of existing facilities has enabled the project to secure support from both the Scottish FA Grassroots Facilities Fund and the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme.
Alongside this, a significant proportion of the cost has been raised directly by the club, supported by volunteers, the local community, Aberdeenshire Council and elected representatives.

What it will mean for Banchory
The new pitches will support hundreds of young people, provide opportunities for schools and community groups, and reduce the need for families to travel outside the town, particularly during the winter months.
It also ensures that as Banchory continues to grow, local facilities are able to keep pace.

Impact on the local area
It is recognised that developments like this raise questions, particularly for those living nearby, and these have been carefully considered as part of the planning process.

A detailed parking survey demonstrated that most activity will take place outside peak traffic hours, and there will be no general parking at the site. Parking will instead be available nearby, supported by safe access routes.
The club will also introduce a travel policy and encourage walking and cycling where possible.

There will be a clear 9pm cut-off for activity and lighting, and the natural layout of the site, along with additional landscaping, will help manage noise.
Lighting has been designed to meet required standards and minimise disturbance, while a modern drainage system has been installed to improve water management and respond to changing weather conditions.

Looking ahead
The pitches are due to open on 15 August and represent the first phase of a wider plan to develop a community sports hub at Tillybrake.
Future plans include a pavilion that will further support players, families and the wider community.

Get involved
This is a community project, and there will be opportunities to support the next phase as it develops.

To find out more, contact us on…..