"Excellent ground for a successful community club"

Ainslie Park football complex is the home for the Spartans F.C. community club. The club does sterling work in the local community beyond simply providing football opportunities but the spectators have not been omitted to their encompassing approach to football in the community. This recently developed ground has excellent pitch views and the supporting infrastructure is also of good quality. In summary a visit to a match at Ainslie Park is an enjoyable experience.

Location

The ground is located behind the Ainslie Park Leisure Centre (follow the signposts for the leisure centre) and is a short walk from one of Edinburgh's main routes. It is some distance from the city centre but there are many frequent bus services from there which pass close to the ground.

The dedicated car park for the Ainslie Park football complex is relatively small but this extends into the leisure centre car park. However on major match days when the leisure centre is also busy then street parking on the surrounding streets is the option.

View

The view of the pitch is excellent from all parts of the ground - there is even a viewing balcony outside the first floor cafeteria.

A stand runs for most of the length of one side of the pitch with c. ten tiered rows of seats. Each tier has sufficient leg room. viewing from the rest of stadium is at pitch level and there is no other cover or seating for spectators.

Facilities

The spectator facilities at the Ainslie Park complex are excellent. The clubhouse contains the ground floor dressing rooms and on the first floor there is a large clubhouse/cafeteria which is open to all spectators on match days.

The toilets are within the clubhouse area and are modern and more than adequate on the majority of match days.

The total complex has several all weather pitches (including that in the main arena) and has dressing rooms serving these side pitches as well - consequently there can be several matches in progress at the same time.

Food & Drink

The cafeteria has the usual selection of hot food, sweets, hot and cold drinks om offer at reasonable prices. There is the added advantage of tables and seats as well as there being several T.V. screens showing match results, and game highlights on the main channels.

There can however be a build up of queues on those match days with larger crowds as the servery counter area is restricted, but usually everyone can be served within the half time period.

Police & Stewards

Police attendance is not normally required and the stewards are all helpful and friendly.

Atmosphere

The essentially open nature of the ground plus the open space behind the stand where the secondary pitches are located makes it difficult to generate an atmosphere. Normally overwhelmingly home supporters comprise the crowd and although they can be vocal there is little interaction between opposing fans

This is a very well run and successful community club whose activity goes well beyond running a first team, and the friendly atmosphere extends to visiting supporters.

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