Government delivers on $478k upgrade to ground’s lighting

Additional light towers will enable Palmerston Rovers to stay out of the heat following the completion of much needed upgrades at Gray Oval.

Palmerston Rovers FC and DR Congo Darwin FC played one another under the new lights at Gray Oval. Picture: Football Northern Territory.

Players will no longer be training in the heat and humidity of the day following major upgrades to Gray Oval.

With new lights brightening up the fields, Palmerston Rovers Football Club now have two brand new light towers and additional lamps on pre-existing towers, after Labor delivered on their $475,000 commitment.

Made possible through the Community Development Grants Program, with a contribution of $3175 by Football NT and the PRFC, the facility will be ready for the upcoming season, in which hundreds of Football NT games will be played on the oval and 3500 MiniRoos aged between five and 12 years of age and 3000 junior footballers (13-17) will also take to the field.

“The Albanese government’s investment in sport encourages increased participation

in physical activity, brings communities together, boosts the economy and supports our athletes to pursue their sporting ambitions on the national and global stage,” Solomon MP Luke Gosling said.

“Women and girls make up just on a third (31.2 per cent) of FNT players which is ahead of the national average of 28.9 per cent.

“The new and improved lighting at Gray Oval is a cool opportunity for more players to train more often, as well as for new players to get involved.”

Luke Gosling with members of Palmerston Rovers FC at the unveiling Gray Oval's new lights. Picture: Football Northern Territory

Football NT chief executive Bruce Stalder is also delighted with the new upgrades, highlighting the importance of supporting clubs in the Top End.

“Palmerston Rovers Football Club is a fast-growing club in the growth corridor of Darwin and the upgrade of the Gray Oval pitch lighting will allow the club to continue to grow,” he said.

“The positive outcomes of children being active in a team setting are well known and these new lights will allow the Club to offer their members a better family football experience.

“Families will stay longer and watch more games, and their kids will play and train more often and in a more comfortable environment.”

Like Stalder, club president Byrne Haigh is also delighted with the new upgrades, putting an emphasis on the importance of player welfare.

“The commonwealth funding for the field lighting upgrade at Gray Oval will enable PRFC to have all its members train under lights and out of the heat and humidity of the day,” he said.

“For a growing club like Palmerston this is a very important development for us as it allows the club to focus on the MiniRoos (five to 11 years old) and Juniors (12 to 17) which are the future of our club.

“For the little ones to play and train out of the heat of the day is both a positive health outcome as well as a positive football development outcome.”