Iconic Alberton Oval scoreboard demolished but parts saved from dump to display at Port club
An iconic piece of Alberton Oval history was demolished this month but a Port Adelaide supporter has ensured it is not thrown away and instead kept for the club to display in the future.
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Port Adelaide could display an iconic scoreboard as part of a proposed club history museum after the decades-old feature at Alberton Oval was knocked down.
The iconic NL Williams Scoreboard, named after record breaking Port Adelaide District Cricket Club great Norm Williams, was demolished this month because Port Adelaide Enfield Council deemed it a safety risk.
But the scoreboard, which was built in 1955 and placed on the southeastern pocket of the oval, would not be lost forever.
The council is storing some of the frame and original brickwork with an aim of handing it back to the football club so it can be “adapted and re-used” — potentially in a proposed history museum.
When diehard Port supporter Justin Leckie heard the scoreboard was being demolished he wanted the piece of history retained.
Leckie, also one of SA’s voices on the AFL Fans Association, lobbied the council with a petition signed by hundreds of supporters to ensure the scoreboard was kept and could be displayed in the future.
“I understand there was some occupational health and safety risks associated with it,” Leckie said.
“I think it’s a good compromise to have it stored for now.
“I’d love to see the scoreboard make a comeback in some shape or form and if you demolish it, you don’t have that option.
“There’s lots of memories (of the scoreboard) that are important to retain.”
Seven-times Port Adelaide SANFL premiership player Tim Ginever has many good memories of looking up at Alberton Oval’s iconic scoreboard.
And not just during his playing days.
“It’s one of those things that sort of becomes part of the fabric of the oval,” the ex-Magpies captain said.
“It was used for footy in the winter and then cricket during the summer.
“I remember my brother and I rode our bikes over to see Port and Norwood play in 1978 and there was a record crowd at Alberton, something like 22,000 packed in.
“We were up near the scoreboard pocket, couldn’t see a thing.
“So we got up along side the scoreboard, we climbed up to the time tower where the time clock was and we watched the game from up top there.”
Ginever also had fond memories of glancing at the scoreboard while wearing the black and white prison bars.
“While playing of course you always had a little glimpse at it every now and then just to make sure we were in and control.
“There’s a great story when we played Sturt in 1989, they had come out in the first quarter and really jumped us.
“Jack (Cahill) gives us a rip and we had this monster quarter in the second quarter, I think we might’ve kicked 11 or 12 goals to bugger all.
“The guy I was standing was a lovely bloke — John Richter — and he looked at the scoreboard and said ‘Timmy look at that, you blokes have kicked 10 goals this quarter.
“And I said ‘you’re right, that’s amazing’ I just couldn’t believe it.
“I love the idea of keeping it.”
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club had “no choice” but to have it torn down because of the safety risks.
But the club would “look to retain and preserve the facade in a club museum”.
Thomas said a new, permanent scoreboard would be included in the club’s Alberton Oval redevelopment plans.
Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan said the council “recognised the historical significance of the old scoreboard” and hoped to see it displayed at Alberton Oval as part of the club’s memorabilia.
Ms Boan said the council was working with the club to find a “suitable modern replacement scoreboard”.