$8.5m plan to save one of Australia’s oldest hockey clubs
ONE of Australia’s oldest hockey clubs hopes an $8.5 million plan to transform a run-down playing field will shore up its future.
ONE of Australia’s oldest hockey clubs hopes an $8.5 million plan to transform a run-down playing field will shore up its future after years of uncertainty.
Forestville Hockey Club wants to move its clubrooms from a grass pitch next to Goodwood Oval – where it has been based for almost 100 years – to the Women’s Memorial Playing Fields in St Marys.
It is calling on major parties to pledge funding for the project ahead of the state election.
All levels of junior and senior hockey have been played on a synthetic pitch since the 1980s, forcing Forestville to train and play at a host of venues across Adelaide.
The club wants to build a new synthetic pitch at St Marys to provide a real home for its players.
The pitch and new clubrooms would be shared with Sturt Lacrosse Club and Cumberland United Women’s Football Club, which are already based at the Women’s Memorial Playing Fields.
Lighting towers, ovals and irrigation would be upgraded as a part of the masterplan.
Former hockey club president Paul Blenkiron said the club had been looking for a new home for 35 years.
“(It) means everything for our club as we are one of three hockey clubs in the state who don’t have their own facilities,” Mr Blenkiron said.
“Without a home facility we would cease to exist in the long-term, as player recruitment and retention is a major issue when you lack suitable facilities.”
He said the club spent $23,000 a year to hire pitches across the state for its 23 senior and junior teams.
Sturt Lacrosse Club secretary Stacey Appleton said the fields’ lighting towers were in desperate need of an upgrade.
“We don’t have enough lights for our kids and have to train on three quarters of the field,” Mrs Appleton said.
Cumberland United Women’s Football Club president Paul Denton said the current facilities were “totally inadequate”.
“Our girls have to walk down in the dark from the top pitch to go to the toilet,” Mr Denton said.
Labor MP Annabel Digance said she would continue to lobby the State Government for funding.
“I am here to make sure that we can activate these grounds and make sure the clubrooms are suitable for their needs,” Ms Digance said.
Liberal candidate for Elder Carolyn Habib said she had met with people from each club in December.
“I am very strong advocate for women’s sport and appropriate infrastructure,” Ms Habib said.
The playing fields are owned by the Office of Sport and Recreation.