Build the Buds - Ralston 3G Pitch Replacement

After many months of discussion and planning, we are delighted to launch the first major infrastructure proposal as part of SMiSA's Build the Buds campaign. Every SMiSA member has an equal say in how the Build the Buds funds are invested, so please read this article and the linked presentation carefully.

Today, we are asking members to vote on a proposal to invest £100,000 from the Build the Buds pot towards the renewal of the 3G pitch at the Ralston Training Academy. All members should have now received an email containing a link for them to vote on the proposal.

As a proud fan-owned club, we are built on the foundations of St Mirren's strategy of People, Paisley, Performance and Progression. Investing in our training facilities is an investment in the future of our club, ensuring our players have the best possible environment to develop and succeed. The new surface will represent a considerable upgrade on the facility currently used by the Academy and First Team. Installing a state-of-the-art, modern playing surface will provide our players with the best possible environment to develop, perform, and thrive on a high-spec pitch.

The current 3G surface is approaching the end of its lifespan and will require replacement to maintain the standards expected of a modern professional football club. Renewing the pitch will help protect a key club asset, support our first team and academy, and strengthen the player pathway from youth football through to the senior squad. The new pitch would have an expected lifespan of approximately 10 years.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately £300,000, with funding proposed to come from the sources below:

• Up to £200,000 via possible grant funding sources e.g. Sportscotland, National Lottery, Scottish FA, Scottish Football Partnership
• £100,000 from SMiSA's Build the Buds pot.

The Build the Buds pot currently holds approximately £65,000. Should members approve this proposal, the funding will be released to St Mirren FC once the fund reaches £100,000. Based on current membership numbers, we are on track to reach this target in late 2026, although every new SMiSA member helps us reach that milestone sooner. Holding the vote now allows the club to confirm the funding in principle and apply for the additional grant from other funding sources.

If approved, work is planned to begin in June 2027, with the new surface in place ahead of the start of the 2027/28 season. The project will only proceed and funds handed to the club once all funding has been confirmed.

The below presentation has been created to highlight the benefits of the proposal and provide full details. 

Voting is now open, and will run for two weeks until 3pm on Wednesday 2nd September.

All members are encouraged to participate in the vote. Should you want to find out more, or have any questions you'd like to ask prior to voting, we'd encourage you to attend our upcoming SMiSA Members Meeting on Monday 24th August. You can attend either in-person or online via our live-stream. Please visit https://members.smisa.net/events to book your place at the meeting now.