SCOTLAND’S oldest junior football club has been saved from closure after a temporary solution was found for its crumbling changing rooms problem.
The Tele revealed how bosses at 135-year-old Dundee East Craigie JFC feared for the club’s future after discovering seven rotted wooden beams in their clubhouse, caused by a water leak, in December.
But today, club bosses said that Dundee City Council had stepped in and provided portable cabins on a temporary basis until a more permanent solution can be found.
Club president Ade Shearer, 52, said that while the cabins meant that the club could continue for now, a fundraising campaign for a new facility has kicked off.
He said: “Councillor Ken Lynn contacted the council for us and they came up and had a look then offered to help us out with the portable cabins on a short-term loan.
“We have started a fundraising drive but we are not sure how long that will need to go on for. We are talking about thousands of pounds.”
The committee is trying to source help from local businesses, offering them the chance to buy advertising boards at the Old Craigie Road ground.
Members are also looking to the local community for support and at how they can bring revenue into the club to sustain it in the future.
Ade added: “Any help that anyone can give is appreciated. Once we get the new building up we are looking at sharing it with other sporting groups and even non-sporting groups. The space would be fine for indoor bowling or a chiropodist could rent the space for a clinic. We are exploring all our options.
Maryfield councillor Ken Lynn said: “I was pleased to help East Craigie – the only amateur club in the area. It’d be horrible to see them going to the wall.”