New pitch, same bold ambition.

On a blustery Friday in Lerwick, the ribbon was cut on a new synthetic pitch. On the surface, it’s the opening of a sports facility. Look a little closer, and it tells a much bigger story about Shetland, its community, and the islands' excellent sporting provision.

The North Loch Park pitch is a full-size, all-weather 3G pitch built to FIFA Quality and World Rugby standards. It is undeniably a high-quality pitch that you might expect to find in a large city or as part of a national performance centre. And it is now open in Shetland's capital town.

That's a big deal for the islands' sporting community and reflects the bold ambition to provide the very best opportunities for those who call the islands home.

All images courtesy of Shetland Islands Council.

Sport plays a central role in Shetland life – bringing people together in friendly competition. From friendly get-togethers to community leagues, grassroots football to rugby, athletics to swimming, participation runs deep.

The new 3G pitch in Lerwick demonstrates that the community passion is backed with serious investment – £1.5M in this instance.

Designed to be used year‑round, whatever the weather decides to do, the pitch will support football, rugby, training sessions, school sport and community activity.

It’s already being used by pupils and clubs, and it opens the door to more regular fixtures, better development pathways and greater opportunity for everyone – from young players just starting out, to adults balancing sport with work and family life.

The pitch is just one part of a network of excellent facilities. There are eight leisure centres dotted around the islands, giving access to those who simply want to stay fit or who aim to compete at a high level.

It's indicative of a wider commitment to high‑quality infrastructure that supports healthy, active lifestyles and strong communities.

Read our stories about football, women’s football, cross-country running or the breadth of sporting opportunity across the islands, and you'll see that a common theme emerges. Sport is woven into daily life.

Facilities like North Loch Park are part of that. The pitches, pools, and courts don't just host matches. They mean people can get together after work, at weekends, on dark winter evenings and bright summer nights. They make it easier to say 'yes' to staying active, to joining a team, or just being part of something. That is Shetland's true sporting community.

For families considering a move, for professionals thinking about relocation, or for young people planning their future, these things matter. Access to modern amenities, safe spaces and strong community networks is a huge part of quality of life – and Shetland delivers.

The new pitch has been delivered through partnership, with support from national sporting bodies alongside local commitment, and an ambition to provide the best possible facilities. That combination is familiar in Shetland.

Time and again, the islands have shown that our small population is no barrier to ambition. Whether in energy, culture, education or sport, Shetland consistently punches above its weight by thinking long‑term and investing in what matters.

Choosing an environmentally conscious infill made from crushed corn cobs rather than rubber crumb, installing efficient lighting and building to the highest standards speaks to that forward‑looking mindset.

This pitch, as the network of leisure centres built 40 years ago, is made to last and will serve the community for decades.

That's why people can finish work and get active within minutes, it's why youngsters have the facilities to match their ambitions, and it's why Shetland values participation, inclusion and wellbeing.

What's more it's facilities like the new pitch, with all its international sporting accreditations, that makes Shetland a place that continues to surprise people. And it's part of the reason why Shetland is an exceptional place live and work.

If you're inspired to find out more, why not kick off your research by visiting our Life in Shetland pages?