New multi-use games area opens at village tennis courts after community rallies together
Last updated 2nd Oct 2026
A tennis court at the heart of a village in the Scottish Borders which had fallen into a state of disrepair has been transformed into a new multi-use games area after the community rallied together.
Rather than patch it up again, the decision was taken to rebuild it properly.
The result is a fenced, all-weather court marked out for four sports - tennis, pickleball, five-a-side football and basketball.
The project represents an investment of more than £110,000, with major funding from Sportscotland and the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside support from Scottish Borders Council.
An application has also been made to the local authority for the installation of floodlighting to allow it to be used all year round.
A full day of free coaching has been organised to celebrate the opening in Gordon on Saturday (October 3rd), from 10am until 3pm.
Paralympic gold medallist Sammi Kinghorn, who grew up locally, will cut the ribbon.
Jack Gracie, chair of Gordon Community Sports Field Group, told Greatest Hits Radio: “It's a fantastic facility.
"A lot of us had grown up there; we'd played tennis on the tennis court and enjoyed that as kids.
"But there was roots growing through the surface, the fence had kind of been torn down; it was generally unsafe and unplayable and had become a bit of an eyesore for the village really."
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It's hoped the new MUGA will encourage more people to stay and play in the village.
“Previously, if you're from Gordon and you wanted to do five-a-side football, basketball, pickleball or tennis then you'd have to take a bus or drive to the next nearest town that had one of those facilities," Mr Gracie explained. "And also there'd be quite a significant cost involved in most cases.”
But he added: "What we wanted to do here is create a local facility that brings people together, and that's accessible and that's also affordable.”
Professional coaches will run the free sessions, which are open to all ages and abilities. No booking is required.
The open session, from 1pm, is a chance for visitors to try the court for themselves - whether that is a game of five-a-side, some shooting practice at the basketball hoop, or a first go at pickleball. Bring trainers or court shoes; studded boots are not allowed on the surface.
The MUGA is already available to book, with live availability and booking information available through the Gordon Village website){:target=_blank}.
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