Edinburgh primary school gifted free sports pitch after Big Hearts award win 2026

Key Points

• South Morningside Primary School in Edinburgh received a free multi-sports pitch.
• Big Hearts Community Trust, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, donated the pitch after winning the European Football for Development Network’s ‘More Than Football’ Award in 2021.
• Big Hearts, the City of Edinburgh Council, and Robertson Construction Central East built the facility alongside several supply chain partners.
• Contractors replaced an old tarmac surface with an all-weather, floodlit sports area.
• The pitch gives the school’s girls’ football team a permanent training ground on school premises.

EDINBURGH (Edinburgh Daily) September 4, 2026 — Primary school pupils in South Morningside, Edinburgh, have officially taken delivery of a brand-new, state-of-the-art sports pitch following a unique collaborative effort spearheaded by Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s official charity, Big Hearts Community Trust. The facility, which features all-weather surfaces and floodlighting, was delivered at no cost to the school after Big Hearts donated a bespoke Musco Mini-Pitch won through a prestigious European award.

How did Big Hearts Community Trust acquire the new sports pitch?

The acquisition of the new sports facility originates from international recognition received by Big Hearts Community Trust. As reported by the official City of Edinburgh Council news portal, the charity won the Europe-wide ‘More Than Football’ Award in 2021, hosted by the European Football for Development Network (EFDN), for its innovative ‘Big Hearts Supporters Movement’ volunteering initiative.

The prize awarded to Big Hearts was a bespoke Musco Mini-Pitch designed to be installed in a local community setting where it would generate maximum impact. Big Hearts selected South Morningside Primary School as the designated venue to ensure pupils and community groups gained access to high-quality sports infrastructure.

Who were the key partners involved in delivering the Edinburgh pitch?

The delivery of the facility required extensive site preparation and infrastructure development, which was facilitated through a public-private partnership. According to reporting by Scottish Construction Now, main contractor Robertson Construction Central East managed the delivery phase as part of its community benefit commitments.

Robertson Construction assisted the school by producing technical drawings, navigating the local authority planning process, coordinating site clearance, and providing overall project management. Additional specialized services were contributed free of charge by several supply chain partners, including:

• Malcolm Hughes Land Surveyors Ltd: Conducted initial land surveying.
• AHF Construction: Executed site excavation and ductwork installation.
• OCS: Handled electrical installations for the floodlighting infrastructure.

What has been said by key leaders about the new facility?

Representatives from the local authority, the construction sector, and the charity sector expressed their support during the official opening of the pitch.

As reported by the City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor James Dalgleish, Convenor for Education, Children and Families at Edinburgh Council, stated:

“This is a fantastic addition to South Morningside Primary and would not be possible without the generosity of Big Hearts Community Trust in gifting the facility they won and Robertson Construction who kindly did the work at no cost.”

Councillor Dalgleish further remarked:

“It has been fantastic to see the children enjoying their new space which has been completely transformed from an old tarmac to a brand new, state-of-the-art sports pitch. This will allow the facility to be used even in the dark and should become a real asset for the local community.”

Detailing the decision-making process behind the location choice, Craig Wilson, Chief Executive of Big Hearts Community Trust, explained:

“Big Hearts’ commitment to improving young people’s wellbeing through participation in sport stretches across the whole city and this is a brilliant example of partnership in action.”

Craig Wilson added:

“It was important for our charity to find the right venue for the Musco pitch: where it was needed and would make a difference every day. Football is already played widely at South Morningside Primary School, with their girls’ team doing brilliantly well, and parents running sessions on evenings and weekends and even more will now be possible. We’re genuinely thrilled that pupils are now able to enjoy a state-of-the-art sport facility without having to leave the school grounds.”

Highlighting the construction industry’s role, David Cairns, Regional Managing Director of Robertson Construction Central East, said:

“This initiative has been a true team effort, working alongside Big Hearts, City of Edinburgh Council and our supply chain partners to deliver a vibrant new sports space. We are committed to delivering meaningful, long-lasting benefits in the communities where we work, and we hope the pupils make the most of their new space and enjoy every minute on the pitch.”

Background of the particular development

The installation of the Musco Mini-Pitch resolves a long-standing infrastructure deficit at South Morningside Primary School. For years, physical education and extracurricular sports at the school relied on an ageing tarmac surface that restricted usability during inclement weather or dark winter afternoons.

Despite these physical limitations, the school developed a highly competitive sports culture. Most notably, the South Morningside Primary girls’ football team achieved national prominence by winning regional competitions despite lacking a dedicated grass or synthetic pitch for routine training sessions. Parents, volunteer coaches, and school staff had previously maintained evening and weekend training schedules by sourcing alternative venues across the city.

When Big Hearts Community Trust secured the Musco Mini-Pitch prize via the European Football for Development Network in 2021, the charity specifically sought an Edinburgh educational establishment where an upgraded surface would deliver immediate, transformative benefits to daily physical education.

Prediction: How this development will affect local pupils and the Morningside community

The introduction of an all-weather, floodlit multi-sports facility at South Morningside Primary School is projected to have several direct impacts on pupils, parents, and the broader local community:

• Year-Round Athletic Development: The replacement of tarmac with synthetic turf, coupled with floodlighting, ensures physical education classes and sports training can continue safely during winter months and wet weather, eliminating cancellations caused by poor outdoor conditions.
• Sustained Youth Inclusion in Sport: The presence of an on-site facility reduces the administrative and logistical burden on parents and volunteer coaches who previously had to transport pupils to external venues for football training and matches.
• Expansion of Community Sport: The upgraded infrastructure will allow parent-led sports initiatives, local youth clubs, and community groups to run evening and weekend sessions directly within the Morningside area, enhancing local access to physical health activities.
• Model for Corporate-Charity Partnerships: The successful delivery of the project at no cost to the public purse establishes a viable blueprint for local authorities, private contractors, and third-sector organisations to upgrade public educational facilities through combined philanthropy and pro-bono commercial contributions.