Johnstone Burgh’s application for £50,000 towards an all-weather pitch is expected to return to councillors in the next board cycle after officers confirmed they are no longer seeking further information.
Renfrewshire Council’s Communities and Housing Policy Board agreed to defer the funding application at its meeting on Tuesday, 27th October 2026.
The £50,000 sought would be a contribution towards building the pitch, rather than funding the full project.
Renfrewshire News previously reported that officers had recommended deferring the application while further information was gathered, ahead of its consideration at the meeting.
Councillor Iain McMillan asked what additional information was required.
Laura McIntyre, the council’s head of policy and partnerships, explained that information had been needed when the report was prepared, particularly about external funding and the overall funding package.
Checks also considered the potential impact on other local services, including pitch provision and demand.
She said: “I can advise that, at present, there is no further information that we are seeking in relation to the application. Simply, the application had to come back to the panel, and then we would be in a position to bring it back to board.”
Ms McIntyre said complex applications sometimes needed to return to the officer panel several times. She acknowledged that this could be frustrating for applicants.
Councillor McMillan supported additional all-weather pitches in Johnstone, highlighting pressure on existing facilities and the benefits for clubs and the wider community.
He said: “These all-weather pitches make a massive difference to not only the club but the community.”
Referring to Thorn Athletic’s planned pitch and Burgh’s proposal, he added: “If Johnstone Burgh gets its own, that will be three. I am not saying that that is enough—I would welcome double that figure—but it is a hell of a lot better than what we have at the moment.”
He pointed to the contrasting fortunes of Burgh and Renfrew in the Scottish Cup the previous Saturday as an example of the difference an all-weather pitch could make.
Councillor McMillan said: “They had a huge game on Saturday in the Scottish Cup. For non-football fans, that is a big deal. It is the proper Scottish Cup, not the junior cup.
“It is the proper Scottish Cup. Just along the road, Renfrew, which has an Astropark, played its game, won the game, and is now in the third round of the Scottish Cup. That is fantastic for Renfrew, and congratulations to them.
“Unfortunately, the Johnstone Burgh game was cancelled. That is because they have a grass park. It will make a difference to them, but also to the community.”
He also highlighted the demand for existing pitches.
Councillor McMillan said: “It will free up an awful lot of space at the hub, where we have two relatively large football clubs competing for one pitch. I have said this before at other committees, but the popularity of girls’ football means that there is even more pressure on the pitches, which is a good thing, and I welcome that.
“However, it is very difficult to get a pitch in the Johnstone area, although I know that some of the schools and, obviously, Paisley Grammar are coming on board with new pitches.”
He asked whether the application was likely to return at the next board meeting, which he said was towards the end of January.
Ms McIntyre replied: “The officer panel meets monthly, so there will be another meeting in November and December, and it is my intention that we will bring forward a recommendation next cycle.”
No funding award was made at the meeting.