Adelaide University Football Club to play night matches to avoid clashes with AFL games at Adelaide Oval

ADELAIDE University Football Club will play under lights this season to avoid clashes with AFL games at the revamped Adelaide Oval.

ADELAIDE University Football Club will play under lights this season to avoid clashes with AFL games at the revamped Adelaide Oval.

The Blacks had four new, 25m light towers installed at their War Memorial Drive home ground last month in the hope of playing up to nine night games this season, including on Anzac Day.

The $270,000 towers were funded through a $135,000 State Government grant and input from University of Adelaide, the AFL and Adelaide City Council.

Blacks chairman Sam Bridgwood said having night football would give the club more flexibility in scheduling games around Port Adelaide and Crows matches at Adelaide Oval.

“This time last year we started thinking about the lights seriously,” Bridgwood said.

“We were only a year away from Adelaide Oval being up and running and were going to have some major scheduling problems.

“Parking was the main one (concern) but also general access to the precinct will be near on impossible on AFL game days.”

The Blacks’ first home night game will be against St Peter’s Old Collegians in round one of the SA Amateur Football League on Friday, April 4.

Their second will be an Anzac Day clash with Goodwood on Friday, April 25, featuring the clubs’ A, B and C grades.

“For us to be able to play a few Friday night games in that precinct is exciting and hopefully we can get decent crowds down there as well,” Bridgwood said.

New 15m lights have also been installed on three Adelaide University Soccer Club pitches.

Bridgwood said the football club had no issues getting council approval for the lights and there were no objections from residents.