On Friday 6 November 2026 Jeanfield Swifts Community Foundation welcomed John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland, to Riverside Stadium in Perth to preview progress on the club's ambitious redevelopment.

Jeanfield Swifts hosted the First Minister as the latest phase of the £2.5 million development approaches completion. They were joined by 97-year-old Tommy Peterson who played for Jeanfield Swifts when he was 16 – making him the oldest living player – and members of the youth teams, including players as young as 7.

The development includes new floodlighting and a new all-weather playing surface, giving Jeanfield Swifts significantly greater capacity for football and community activity throughout the year, including during the winter months when limited daylight and weather conditions have previously restricted activity.

Around 450 players are involved with Jeanfield Swifts, almost half of whom are women and girls. Growing opportunities for women's and girls' football is a key part of the club's ambitions for Riverside.

A further funded phase will include improvements to changing and dressing facilities, helping JSCFC create facilities better suited to its growing women's and girls' game.

The Community Foundation’s vision for Riverside extends the benefits far beyond the club’s football teams. Current community programmes include Women’s Walking Football, holiday camps, after-school and recreational football for local pupils and its Welcome League, which supports asylum seekers and New Scots. These activities enhance physical and mental wellbeing for all groups.

The improved facilities give greater capacity to expand these activities and develop further opportunities with neighbouring schools and other community partners.

The improvements have been made possible through a major funding partnership, including the Scottish FA's Pitching In programme, Perth and Kinross Council, Gannochy Trust and Jeanfield Endowment Trust.

Steve Antoniewicz, Chair of Jeanfield Swifts Community FC, said: "We're delighted to welcome the First Minister to Riverside and show him what these facilities will mean for our club and community.

"This is about much more than a new pitch. With around 450 players, almost half of them women and girls, an all-weather surface and floodlights give our teams our wider community the home they deserve, with year-round opening right through the winter.

"We're grateful to the Scottish FA, Gannochy Trust, Perth and Kinross Council and Jeanfield Endowment Trust for helping make this possible.

"We want Riverside to be welcoming and busy throughout the day, giving more people the chance to take part in sport and becoming an even bigger part of the community we serve."

John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland, said: “I was delighted to visit Jeanfield Swifts and see first-hand the progress being made on this exciting development.

“Jeanfield Swifts plays an important role in the local community, providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in football, stay active and build friendships.

“I am particularly pleased to see the commitment to growing opportunities for women and girls, and the investment being made to ensure its facilities can support these ambitions.

"I congratulate everyone involved in helping to secure a bright future for Jeanfield Swifts and the wider community.”

Sam Lawson, Scottish FA East Region Manager said: "We are thrilled to see the progress of Jeanfield Swifts and their community facility at Riverside. The Scottish FA's Pitching In is part of a five-year plan focused on modernising changing facilities, upgrading older pitches, and adding new facilities in areas of need and this facility is a fantastic example of this. The club's proud history of increasing participation and developing opportunities for girls and women’s football will continue at this facility and we are delighted to have assisted in supporting them to turn it in to a reality."

Councillor Eric Drysdale, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: "Jeanfield Swifts is a great example of the difference a strong community sports club can make, not only through football but by bringing people together and creating opportunities to be active and connected.

"The scale of Jeanfield Swifts's ambition for Riverside is exciting. This investment gives the Community Foundation the capacity to build on the brilliant work it's already doing and create even more opportunities for people in this part of Perth and across the city."

Jeanfield Swifts will now take this phase of development through its final stages, with the new all-weather facilities expected to become available for use once the remaining works are complete and the playing surface is ready for play.