Aberdeen executive vice-chairman George Yule is proud of the success story that is the AFC Community Trust.
Rated as one of the best in the country and shortlisted for honours at European level, the AFCCT has made a huge impact off the pitch for the club.
The charitable trust has become a pillar of the Granite City and Yule believes the trust’s aims of building stronger links with the community will be strengthened immeasurably by having a permanent base at Kingsford.
The vice-chairman said: “We’ve all got great memories of matches from Pittodrie but we are trying to push this club into the 21st century in all aspects. We don’t have our own training facilities, and the trust don’t have their facilities either.
“It is an aged asset and we are having to plough in more money to stand still.
“In designing the new facilities we have looked at what we don’t have at Pittodrie and I think the designs for Kingsford reflect that.”
The trust is already making headlines but Yule wants to achieve even more.
“We’ve established the trust in the community and built a strong relationship with the public but we want to produce ‘best in class’ community and training facilities and we want to ensure we continue to enhance this club.
“As a one-club city and region the club has a high profile and there is a responsibility which we take very seriously of being a visible role model.
“What the trust is doing as a charity is working with our partners to offer opportunity in our local area. It is not all about young kids playing football.
“We do a lot of work with the female side as well and whether it be taking people who are housebound out or taking young kids into the club for breakfast, it’s something we are committed to.”
