Mackay’s Northern Suburbs rugby league club plays its first home game in more than five years

The Mackay-based club has relocated to share facilities with another football code.

Northern Suburbs return home after five years, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Northern Suburbs Devils fans flocked to witness history on Saturday as the rugby league club hosted a home game for the first time in more than five years.

The Devils successfully relocated to Eaglemount Park with 15 junior games held at the Mackay Wanderers soccer club, which has been there for generations.

The two clubs will now shared the facilities at the Beaconsfield.

Club president Danny Contor said it was a proud moment for the club which has struggled since leaving its old facilities.

“It’s been brilliant, we’re a family club and we’re just trying to give back to the kids,” he said.

The quality of the old facilities was the determining factor for the relocation of the club but the long process has finally ended, with teams featuring from under-6s to under-17s.

Vice President Adam Anderson was excited to herald the new era for the club.

“We’re in a rebuilding phase, as a club,” Anderson said.

“We’re getting all the families back together, hosting new activities for the families to come and enjoy.”

The two fields were in full use on Saturday, with a modified ground for the youth teams and a full international-sized pitch reserved for the older boys and girls.

Northern Suburbs return home after five years, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Contor and Anderson have been in their current roles since the start of the 2021 season, with both club officials crediting their predecessors for the contributions they made to the move.

“Wade Bishop (former President) had a lot to do with getting us to the Wanderers,” Contor said.

“We’ve just taken on their roles, and the work they did to get us to where we are today.”

The goal for the club is now to provide a consistent base and a successful atmosphere for the and supporters that volunteered their time to keep the club alive.

“There’s been a lot of volunteers helping out, it’s a big family club and it has definitely been that throughout this time,” Contor said.

“Everyone jumps in and pitches in to help us out, handing out jerseys to new players and doing whatever they can.”

Originally published as Mackay’s Northern Suburbs rugby league club plays its first home game in more than five years