Randwick City FC celebrate inclusiveness and fun at gala day

MORE than 200 people gathered to celebrate inclusiveness, diversity and fun as Randwick City Football Club held its annual gala day at Heffron Synthetic Field.

Randwick City Football Club's Purple Hearts players with Coogee Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith at their annual gala day at Heffron Synthetic Field. Picture: supplied.

MORE than 200 people gathered to celebrate inclusiveness, diversity and fun as Randwick City Football Club held its annual gala day at Heffron Synthetic Field on Sunday.

The event saw players from all teams including the over 40s masters players, all-ages teams and the Purple Hearts teams of disabled young men, women and children combine to form mixed teams and play in a round-robin, mixed 5-a-side tournament.

Club secretary Julian Busic said the day was a huge success.

“Our club was founded on a very firm ethos that sport should be accessible and affordable to all, and the event was our opportunity to showcase to the community how we put our values into practice” Mr Busic said.

Randwick City Football Club's Purple Hearts. Picture: supplied.

A recent NSW Government funding boost had helped the club expand the Purple Hearts program, enabling 60 children and adults with a disability to learn and play soccer, promoting friendship and team spirit.

“The Purple Hearts initiative is a great example of how a team of volunteers with a vision can successfully inspire everyone to live active, healthier lives,” Mr Notley-Smith said after taking to the field with the group.

The club has received NSW Government funding enabling it to expand the program to 60 enable 60 children and adults with a disability to learn and play soccer, promoting friendship and team spirit. Picture: supplied.

Randwick City had successfully applied to make Chifley Sports Reserve its new home ground, giving the Purple Hearts access to the purpose-built accessible playground at the site.

The club’s Premier League side will play its first match there on Wednesday March 22 at 7pm, taking on NSW NPL2 club Fraser Park in the FFA Cup.

“Randwick Council spent a lot of money remediating the fields at Chifley, and we are delighted to have had it awarded to us as our permanent home ground,” Mr Busic said.