Penicuik Astro Pitch is used by the pupils of Penicuik High School and local primary schools across Penicuik and Midlothian for inter-school football festivals and is hired every evening by both Youth and Adult local football teams, including teams from outside Penicuik.

Penicuik Athletic Youth Football Club (PAYFC) has 60+ Coaches and Volunteers running 14 football teams for 350 youths. It aims not only to make better football players but to improve health and fitness, keep kids off the streets and out of trouble. 

PAYFC offers each player 2-3 hours of training during the week and a match at the weekend. The club is so big that each team needs to train one night on the Penicuik Astro and one night on the Beeslack HS Astro Pitch. 

PAYFC and the Scottish FA arranged a “Site Inspection Report” of the Astro Pitch. The surface condition recorded was “Poor - subject to long-term wear, having reached the end of its useful life”. The cost to bring it up to standard is £255k (excluding VAT). Yet the Council has increased the costs of hiring their facilities over the last 6 months, with PAYFC having to increase the player monthly standing order fee despite the poor condition of the pitch.

PAYFC has a duty of care to all members. We have real concerns for all the players given the poor condition of the pitch. Players have been injured playing football. On Thursday 17 January 2019 a boy fell during training, badly injuring his elbow. PAYFC have reported this injury to Midlothian Council which it believes may very well be the result of the poor surface.

PAYFC want Midlothian Council to fund re-carpeting and maintenance and to increase the security as this site (possibly CCTV) to help prevent any damage or vandalism.