Bonnyton Thistle finally got started on their Townholm project after officially unveiling the new site on Friday.
The club are now set to press ahead with the ambitious plans for their club in the town.
It’s all thanks to funding from sportscotland, East Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council’s Renewable Energy Fund and the Scottish Football Partnership.
The project has been a dream for the club for a long time and now it has become a reality, with club chairman Ian Higgins saying “it means everything”.
Mr Higgins added: “We’re delighted. We can’t praise the Council’s Vibrant Communities team enough for all the assistance.
“They’ve bent over backwards to drive the project forward with us.
“Cammy Watt, SFA facilities manager, Sarah Robertson sportscotland, John Brown SFA regional manager for the South West Region, Stewart McCaffrey, Scottish Football Partnership, and Gillian Arnot, Scottish Renewable Energy Fund, have all played a huge part in driving the project forward.
"We’ve forged a strong partnership with the Council which will stand us in good stead as we go forward.
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“We have the funding in place now for Phase One which is the construction of the full-size 3G pitch. Work starts on site next week.
“This means everything to the club. We already have 350 young footballers from age fout to under-21 spread across 16 age groups and including many with disabilities.
“This year our girls’ section will expand to four teams but with these new facilities we’ll be able to expand the full club, focusing on over 35s teams and walking football along with an adult team.”
The state-of-the-art football facility will be made up of a 3G pitch, clubhouse and community space.
Councillor Douglas Reid, leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: “This is brilliant news for Kilmarnock and East Ayrshire.
“Bonnyton Thistle is an exceptional amateur football club and their performances continue to be a real source of pride for local people.
"Bonnyton Thistle is a 350-member club, offering the highest standard of football coaching and activities for tiny tots all the way through to under-21s.
“The Club has achieved the highest standard of accreditation from the Scottish FA as Legacy Quality Mark holders and this investment, matched by funding approved by the council last year, will help them build a facility that matches their aspirations and abilities as one of the country’s top football clubs."