Hundreds of junior and senior sports people helped mark the official opening of the new Melrose 3G community sports pitch.

The new pitch at the Greenyards was opened by Doddie Weir on Saturday 2nd November as part of a full day of sport that included junior football, girls rugby, a Southern Knights training session and two Melrose Rugby’s senior XV games.

The £1million pitch will provide an all year round playing surface and a variety of community benefits to local sports clubs and schools.

The project has been led by Melrose Rugby and Scottish Borders Council (SBC), with support from Scottish Rugby and charity Live Borders. It includes new floodlighting and a spectator walkway, and is fully expected to result in a considerable increase in sports participation at all levels.

Councillor David Parker, SBC’s Convener, who was heavily involved in negotiations to secure the new 3G pitch at Melrose, said: “The Greenyards pitch is owned by the Ormiston Trust, whose sole aim is to make sure that it provides important community facilities for all and the new 3G community sports pitch will certainly do that.”

Chairman of Melrose RFC, Gordon Brown, said: “Melrose Rugby is delighted with the opening of the new 3G pitch. This has been a long-standing ambition of the club since the launch of our Legacy project in 2017. The new 3G pitch with floodlights will allow the club to continue competing at the highest level as well as being an incredible asset that will enable other sporting activities and events.

“The club would like to thank all its support partners involved in this inclusive community-focused project. It will mark an exciting new chapter for us as we open our doors to other sports clubs in Melrose and the surrounding area.”

Photo: Doddie Weir, Councillor David Parker, Melrose Junior footballers and invited guests help to officially open the new Melrose 3G pitch