Cash lifeline for rain-hit Coffs Coast football clubs

Canteens closed, raffles canned and player numbers down - the big wet has cruelled local football clubs. Now support is on its way.

The new South Coffs sports precinct has been in hot demand, with the all-weather surfaces providing a sanctuary with many grass fields unfit for play. Picture: Chris Knight

Coffs Harbour’s rain weary football clubs will receive an economic booster shot, while at the same time realise where they stand in the pecking order for securing the city’s prestige playing venues.

Sodden grass fields have severely hampered many clubs through the 2022 season - as grounds have been unfit for training let alone competition.

Coffs Harbour City Council says it hears the pain, and has determined to slash the cost of grass sports ground hire.

To that end it will apply a discount on grass fields it manages for the first two months of the season - roughly a 33 per cent saving for all winter sports.

The city already heavily subsidises the running and maintenance costs of the grounds, as hire fees cover only around 10 per cent of the bill.

Nearly 400 bookings have been taken at the new Coffs synthetic fields since they opened in February. Picture: Chris Knight

North Coast Football (NCF) is also digging into its reserves to support the 24 clubs affected by the big wet.

More than $50,000 will be shared out to clubs - based on their player numbers.

NCF general manager Andrew Woodward said clubs on the Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley had been whacked from pillar to post by the weather, losing income as canteen, raffles and gala days have been impacted.

The McLean Street fields have been heavy going, on the back of heavy widespread rainfall across the Coffs Coast. Photo: Chris Knight.

Player registrations have also fallen shy of expectation, particularly in the Clarence.

“This year is the most challenging start to a football season ever and comes on top of two seasons of dealing with a global pandemic,” Mr Woodward said.

“There’s a lot of frustration amongst our 5000-plus participants who just want to play football. We just have to be patient and work our way through this.”

C.ex Coffs International Stadium is prioritised for regional, national and international events. Photo: Tim Jarrett

Meanwhile, council has clarified its policy on venue access, after a Coffs United booking for the new synthetic fields was bumped to make way for a gridiron exhibition.

Council’s Dan Heather said there had been some 370 bookings for the synthetic grounds since they opened in February - and 98 per cent of that traffic had been by local sports and schools.

“While it’s great to see such demand, we have to be mindful that we have to give all codes and groups a fair share of council facilities,” Mr Heather said.

“We do prioritise international, national and regional events at facilities like the C.ex Coffs International Stadium and Coffs Coast Synthetics over local events, but there are sound economic and community reasons for that.

“Such events bring more than $30m on average every year into the local economy. That money helps us provide more and better facilities for the community as a whole.”