East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy has welcomed South Lanarkshire Council’s decision to approve an upgrade to their home ground at K-Park. The council’s planning committee last week approved plans for the existing five-a-side pitches adjacent to the main pitch to make way for a new two-storey community space, which will include new changing facilities, a fitness suite and cafe.
Operated by the charity East Kilbride Community Trust, the venue is home to the town’s senior football team, which won the SPFL League Two title last season and is now preparing for life in League One. Plans in 2016, which were backed by the local newspaper East Kilbride News and local hero Ally McCoist, had originally been approved to build a custom stadium in Langlands. But the club’s failure to get out of the Lowland League at the time, coupled with rising construction costs post-Covid saw that idea scrapped in favour of an upgrade to the existing facility within Calderglen Country Park.
Now the Trust and EKFC can look forward to a more vibrant venue in the coming months, with a timescale yet to be confirmed. Kennedy told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “There are two sides to it. There will obviously be an increased footfall, which will help in terms of income. There are a lot of big clubs in the league this season when you look at the likes of Hamilton Accies, Airdrie and Ross County who carry big supports for this level. But it is also about improving the infrastructure at the ground. It allows us to have more matchday hospitality, proper gym facilities on site, a canteen. There are lots of benefits for us as a club and the community. The long-term plan for the club was to have our own stadium when we got to a certain point in our journey, but we have probably arrived a lot quicker than we expected so it is good to have a solution, short term.”
On the park, the club is preparing for the new season, which kicks off next month and they have three pre-season friendlies lined up for K-Park in the coming weeks. They kick off on June 27 when they welcome League Two side Kelty Hearts (3.15pm) and that is followed by the visit of West of Scotland Premier side Irvine Meadow on July 4 (2pm). Celtic B then visit on July 7 (7.45pm) in their final warm-up clash.
Meanwhile, striker Cami Elliott has been handed the armband at East Kilbride for next season. The 27-year-old takes over the captaincy after title-winning skipper Jack Leitch left the League Two champions for League Two outfit Edinburgh City earlier this month. And the club has also announced defender Sean Fagan will be vice-captain in place of Lewis Spence. Elliott has been with Kilby for two spells, either side of an 18-month stint at Dundalk in the League of Ireland, and knows what it takes to win promotions and titles.
Kennedy said: “After losing Jack and Spenny, our captain and vice-captain, it was just about looking in the group and where the experience is. There isn’t a lot of experience left, but Cami is one who has been there through everything with us and been here a bit of time. I know it is a bit unusual for a striker to be captain but his work rate, effort and desire is to be admired. Sean deserves his role as well for what he has done for the club so it is two good appointments.”
Elliott told the club media: “I’m absolutely buzzing. This is my fifth season at East Kilbride and it is an honour to captain the club. I think I can help take the club forward. It is going to be hard coming up from League Two against a lot of full-time teams, but I will give it everything I have got.”
