PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Today (Tuesday, November 1) at 6.15pm, Hillhead Centre, Don Street, Old Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen will showcase its first-class sports and leisure facilities today (Tuesday, November 1) with a special event to mark the official opening of the former Keith Park facility.
The University purchased the first-rate sports ground in May 2004 in a bid to develop sporting facilities for its students, staff and the City.
As part of the task to refresh the facility’s image and to reflect the change of ownership, the facility has been renamed Hillhead Centre.
Today’s special event marks the official launch of Hillhead Centre and coincides with the annual Captains Meet the Principal event, which sees all sports captains and representatives from the 54 clubs gathering to meet the Principal of the University of Aberdeen, Professor C Duncan Rice.
David Beattie, Director of Sports Development, said: “We are delighted to be launching the Hillhead Centre and the annual Captains Meet the Principal event provides the ideal chance for the University and the wider community to see what is available at the Centre.
“The facility will provide greater opportunities for developing University sport. In particular the floodlit grass and all weather pitches provide good quality all year round training and match facilities for the University’s successful football and hockey clubs, as well as providing training opportunities for local clubs in Aberdeen.”
The University’s commitment to sustaining sporting excellence has been enhanced by the development of the grounds to form an all-encompassing sports and leisure facility.
As well as the floodlit grass and all weather pitches, on site are complimentary health therapies such as reflexology and aromatherapy and it is planned in the near future to bring physiotherapy and sports injury services into the centre.
In addition, the centre offers meeting and conferencing facilities for University and wider community use.
Iain Morrison, Vice-President of Sport at the University, said: “It is brilliant news that Hillhead Centre will finally be able to offer students, staff, and the general public of Aberdeen the chance to utilise such a great sporting facility.
“It will be an invaluable facility for a number of clubs, but especially our hockey clubs who have wished for an Astroturf pitch for a number of years now.
“Hillhead Centre will allow our already successful teams to develop and exceed the already high standards they have set.”
Sport and Recreation Services at the University is recognised as a Centre of Excellence and currently supervises the strength and conditioning programmes of some of Scotland’s elite athletes who are based in the North-east of Scotland, and who belong to the Grampian Institute and Scottish Institute of Sport.
In addition, the Department offers sports science support for other athletes, for example, giving advice on training, sports psychology and lifestyle management, as well as providing a comprehensive recreational programme for students, staff and members of the public.
The University of Aberdeen marked the beginning of 500 years of teaching and learning in September this year. As the fifth oldest university in the UK, the University of Aberdeen is an international and pioneering institution, which prides itself on serving one of the most dynamic regions in Europe.
With more than 13,500 students and over 3,000 staff, the University is at the forefront of teaching and research in medicine, the humanities and sciences. The University is renowned for its historical continuity, richness and diversity, while maintaining a modern and dynamic approach to serving the needs of the 21st century. Here, the academic, social and recreational areas combine to enrich the educational experience and the quality of life for students, staff, alumni and visitors.