Big Hearts Community Trust, the City of Edinburgh Council, Robertson Construction and a range of supply chain partners have joined forces to provide South Morningside Primary School with a new floodlit multi-sports pitch at no cost.

The project stems from Big Hearts, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, winning the Europe-wide 'More Than Football' Award in 2021 for its Big Hearts Supporters Movement. The prize was a bespoke Musco Mini-Pitch for a local site, which has now been installed at the school.

An ageing tarmac sports area has been transformed into a dedicated space for football and wider physical activity, enabling pupils to train and play throughout the year under lights. After assessing several potential locations across the city, South Morningside Primary was chosen for its strong football culture, enthusiasm for sport, award-winning girls' team and its commitment to widening participation. The school was recently named TES Primary School of the Year.

Working with the City of Edinburgh Council and the school, Robertson Construction Central East supported design and delivery by preparing drawings, guiding the planning process, coordinating site preparation and managing the project.

Specialist services were donated by Robertson's supply chain: Malcolm Hughes Land Surveyors Ltd provided surveying; AHF Construction undertook excavation and ductwork installation; and OCS delivered electrical works for the new lighting. StopFire supplied fire protection to seal service routes, while Miller Fabrications manufactured and fitted players' benches, water bottle holders and a cable protection bollard.

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The new facility builds on the success of the school's girls' football team, which previously trained and played without a dedicated pitch. The upgraded space is expected to help nurture the next generation of players and expand access to sport year-round.

David Cairns, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Central East, said: "This initiative has been a true team effort, working alongside Big Hearts, City of Edinburgh Council and our supply chain partners to deliver a vibrant new sports space. We are committed to delivering meaningful, long-lasting benefits in the communities where we work, and we hope the pupils make the most of their new space and enjoy every minute on the pitch."

James Dalgleigh, Convenor for Education, Children and Families, City of Edinburgh Council, James Dalgleigh, said: "This is a fantastic addition to South Morningside Primary and would not be possible without the generosity of Big Hearts Community Trust in gifting the facility they won and Robertson Construction who kindly did the work at no cost."

"It has been fantastic to see the children enjoying their new space which has been completely transformed from an old tarmac to a brand new, state of the art sports pitch. This will allow the facility to be used even in the dark and should become a real asset for the local community."

Craig Wilson, Chief Executive, Big Hearts, Community Trust, said: "Big Hearts' commitment to improving young people's wellbeing through participation in sport stretches across the whole city and this is a brilliant example of partnership in action."

"It was important for our charity to find the right venue for the Musco pitch: where it was needed and would make a difference every day. Football is already played widely at South Morningside Primary School, with their girls' team doing brilliantly well, and parents running sessions on evenings and weekends and even more will now be possible. We're genuinely thrilled that pupils are now able to enjoy a state-of-the-art sport facility without having to leave the school grounds."