Between 2002-2008 I was Scottish Correspondent for the wonderfully professional Groundtastic – The Football Grounds Magazine. I can not speak highly enough of the editors and contributors to this glossy magazine that is jam-packed with interesting information and photographic gold.

Dundee and Dundee United have joined forces with the University of Abertay to build a joint football academy costing £5 million. The two clubs have submitted a bid for £1 million in lottery funding to sportscotland while a further £450,000 is being sought from the Scottish Football Partnership.

Plans for the 42-acre site include 8 full-size pitches, two of which will boast synthetic, all-weather surfaces and four of which will include floodlights. In addition, the academy could be home to an indoor sports hall, fitness suites, media and press centre and kitchen, dining and laundry facilities – the clubs would be based at the academy for training and administrative purposes. However, such a centre is a long way off as the plans are only at the application stage.

Sports Administrator Alex Stuart who played for Dundee and United has been working on the scheme for past 3 months. He said, “Dundee United and Dundee deserve huge credit for coming together on the bid. They’ll always be massive rivals on the park but off it they’ve realised that by pooling strengths and expertise they can both be stronger We could see the project off the ground within 12 months.”

 Hearts’ plans to move to a new ground at Braehead on the outskirts of Edinburgh have been ditched. The 30,000-seater ground was to have been built on an area of land between Braehead Quarry and Turnhouse Golf Course. The Jambos have decided to look elsewhere – focussing on the western side of the city – for a suitable ground location. The club is moving because Tynecastle will be too small for European football in seven years time. New regulations concerning pitch sizes will come into force from UEFA in 2010 and the Gorgie Road site does not allow for expansion to meet them.

Livingston are looking at ways to help solve the problems encountered by their disabled supporters who have complained of a lack of protection from the elements in the West Stand at Almondville. The club is currently looking at a mirror image of what they already have in place within the East Stand. By removing a number of seats from the front row of block A3 and C2 we would be able to allow a carer to sit beside each wheelchair.

Livingston are also looking at other stadiums and how they accommodate wheelchair supporters.

The First Division title went to Falkirk, but will promotion to the SPL follow? By the time you read this you’ll know which division Falkirk will be playing in next season. Top-flight football will only be granted to The Bairns if SPL bosses decide to allow Falkirk to share New Broomfield Park with Airdrie United until their new all-seater community-stadium at Westfield is ready.

Mowlem Construction have been awarded the contract to build the new ground which will include 11 5-a-side pitches, a fitness centre and conference facilities. Meanwhile, Falkirk have auctioned off parts of Brockville, which staged its final game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on May 10, and was due for demolition in early June to make way for a Morrison’s supermarket.

Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie said, “The demolition of Brockville will be a time of mixed emotions for fans. The ground holds precious memories for thousands of people and we will all be sad to see the stadium go. But it does mean that a new and exciting future is opening up for the football club – and for the Falkirk community as a whole”.

Asda is still in negotiations with Inverness Caledonian Thistle over the purchase and redevelopment of Caledonian Stadium, allowing ICT to relocate to a purpose-built ground in the Bught area of the city. Such a move would enable the Highlanders to meet strict SPL ground criteria but reports suggest Asda may be considering moving to the neighbouring travelling people’s site instead and sharing ICT’s car parking facilities.

Since St Mirren were relegated from the SPL in 2001, the club has struggled financially. The situation is now so critical that The Buddies are being forced to sell their Love Street ground and move to a new custom-built stadium in Paisley. The proposed relocation to the Ferguslie area hinges on the local council granting planning permission for a retail development at Love Street with supermarket chain Morrisons thought to be waiting in the wings.

Buckie Thistle, of the Highland League, is appealing to their fans for funds needed to upgrade Victoria Park’s ageing floodlights. Thistle’s President Mark Duncan said; “The existing lights were erected way back in 1978 so they are now 25 years old and although they have lasted well, they are now beginning to show their age with repairs now being regularly required. A total upgrade of all of the lights is now required and this will cost a figure of around £15,000. The existing floodlight pylons are still in good condition and it is only the lights themselves that need replacing.”

The club is hopeful of raising enough funds to have the new lights in place by the end of the season. Meanwhile, the Main Stand at Victoria Park has received a facelift. The cost of these improvements was paid for in full by Buckie’s main sponsor Planwell Roofing Supplies and include the installation of new front cladding, new lightweight shutters, new signs and a new flagpole, all of which now make the stand wind and watertight for years to come.