Work focused on bringing football back to the once-thriving St James’ Playing Fields in Paisley is nearing completion.

Modern changing facilities and four reinstated pitches are due to be in place at the park, known locally as the Racecourse, by the end of this year.

Renfrewshire Council has confirmed they will be operational from January – representing a major boost for the sport in the local authority.

Councillor Kenny MacLaren, who grew up playing football at the Shortroods site, welcomed the significant progress now being made on the project.

The SNP representative for Paisley Northwest told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It used to be the primary place in the whole of Renfrewshire for football matches for schools and youth teams.

“Although it’s only four pitches, it’s symbolic for Paisley so it’s good to see it coming back.

“I know there’s been delays with getting the right construction company in and the right price for the changing rooms but I’m glad it’s going to be finished soon and up and running.

“Obviously I would have preferred more pitches but four’s a good start and if we can get them used, the more they get used, the more we can look at maybe putting more in.

“I used to play there in the morning with the school team and with a youth team in the afternoon.

“Anybody from my generation will remember the pitches that were there and how the park was always mobbed.”

Meanwhile, a walking path is due to be built around the site’s perimeter next year – a step which was also applauded by Councillor MacLaren.

The veteran politician added: “It makes sense to put something like that in at the Racecourse.

“In places it can be quite marshy, so it will be good to get a decent path round the outside.

“If you think back to lockdown, people were looking for spaces to exercise and having a path round the outside is a good way to get people out and about and moving.”