Work begins on new Tillydrone Cruyff Court
Work started today on a new Cruyff Court – an outdoor community sports facility – in Aberdeen.
Local contractor, Hunter Construction Limited, was appointed as the main contractor last month for the court, which will be built in Tillydrone and is expected to be completed in Spring 2024.
The court is the city’s third and has been named in honour of Aberdeen FC’s legendary skipper Willie Miller, who led the team to the Cup Winners’ Cup victory over Real Madrid in 1983.
Aberdeen City Council Convener of Finance and Resources Committee Councillor Alex McLellan said: “I am pleased that this project is continuing to process, with a contractor now appointed, work is scheduled to begin soon.
“I am confident that this Cruyff Court will be a welcomed addition and be popular with young people in Tillydrone once it is finished.”
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Ian Yuill said: “This new Cruyff Court will be a great new resource for Tillydrone. I am looking forward to seeing it in use as a place where people can come together and stay active.”
The court will include an artificial sports and activity area, basketball and dodgeball courts, mini-tennis courts and a running track.
David Suttie, Trustee, Denis Law Legacy Trust said: "It's fantastic news that we have now reached the stage of the appointed contractor starting on site.”
“The building of Aberdeen's 3rd Cruyff Court at Tillydrone is a great achievement by the partnership of Aberdeen City Council, The Johan Cruyff Foundation and Denis Law Legacy Trust. We are delighted that work has now started on this fabulous new facility which we know from experience will make a huge difference in the local community. Our Streetsport sessions will, I’m sure, be very popular.”
Willie Miller said: “I’m delighted that progress has been made and that the community in Tillydrone will soon be able to use the Cruyff Court. Facilities like this that are free to access make a huge difference in promoting grassroots sport and it is an honour to have my name attached to the project.”
Niels Meijer, director of the Cruyff Foundation, commented: “We all know that lots of kids move too less and are often behind screens nowadays. These Cruyff Courts provide children and young people with a safe accessible space to be active, have fun together and to grow through sports physically and mentally. We are delighted to realise this 3rd court in Aberdeen with support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and such great partners.”
Hunter Construction Limited Managing Director, Mark Oakley, said: “This is the third Cruyff Court that we have built within Aberdeen. We have seen first hand the importance that community projects like this have on the city and expect the same from Cruyff Court Willie Miller in Tillydrone. We look forward to working with Aberdeen City Council, Denis Law Legacy trust, and the Cruyff Foundation again.”
Councillors from the Finance and Resources Committee approved funds for the project in July and agreed to appoint Hunter Construction as the main contractor last month.
The new sport facility will make Aberdeen one of only two cities in the UK to have three Cruyff Courts, both named after Aberdeen football heroes, Cruyff Court Denis Law in Catherine Street and Cruyff Court Neale Cooper in Tullos.
The new court is also the result of the ongoing successful partnership between Aberdeen City Council, Denis Law Legacy Trust and The Cruyff Foundation.