MA Hawks Football Club left in limbo over proposed Thebarton Oval lease

A soccer club faces being booted from its home in the Thebarton Oval precinct once the proposed Adelaide Crows headquarters project goes ahead.

A western suburbs soccer club fears it will lose its longstanding home once the proposed Adelaide Football Club lease agreement for the Thebarton Oval Precinct goes ahead.

MA Hawks Football Club says it has been left in the dark over how West Torrens Council’s negotiations with the AFL Club would affect it.

On Monday night, elected members voted 7-5 on Monday night for the $85m project to proceed, despite several acknowledging the council was in caretaker mode for the council elections.

The precinct’s Kings Reserve has been home to the South Australian Amateur Soccer League’s men’s club for 20 years.

“We may lose our home – Kings Reserve reflects our club,” president Peter Bouras said.

“On a home game we can vary from 100 to 300 spectators.”

Mr Bouras said he had little information as to what impact the proposal for the Crows to lease the area would have on his club.

“No one has spoken to me directly about the proposed Adelaide Football Club plans,” he said.

Under the plans, there would be two ovals that the Crows would use for training. The community would have access at other times.

MA Hawks Football Club President Peter Bouras with his son, Yanni Bouras at Kings Reserve where a Crows redevelopment has left the team in limbo. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Bouras said it was unclear as to whether there would be room for his club to host games anymore.

But he did see some benefits to the redevelopment plan.

“Improving the surface conditions, improving the environment, cleaning it up and making it more aesthetically appealing is favourable,” he said.

He said the Hawks had previously submitted a request to the council to upgrade its facilities.

“We were looking at ways to expand and possibly bring in a junior program or a women’s league,” he said, adding that would have involved a second soccer pitch and new changerooms.

The Hawks had hoped its expansion bid would be part of a council masterplan for Kings Reserve, which Mr Bouras said was set aside due to the North-South Corridor project.

Despite fears of losing land to that project – and being unsure of the impact of the Crows’ intent to lease the precinct – he remained hopeful his club’s expansion might still be feasible.

The council declined to comment.