New junior soccer hub for Hobart’s Northern Suburbs a ‘game changer’

The Federal Government will invest almost $13 million to build a northern suburbs junior soccer hub in Chigwell.

Junior soccer in Hobart’s Northern Suburbs is set for a major boost. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THE Federal Government will invest almost $13 million to build a northern suburbs junior soccer hub in Chigwell.

The commitment, to be announced today by Clark independent MP Andrew Wilkie, is set to become the largest single investment in soccer in Tasmania.

The facility will be at the home of Metro Football Club in Allunga Rd. It will feature two full-sized synthetic pitches, junior grass pitches of various sizes and change rooms.

It is hoped construction will be completed within two to three years.

Football Federation Tasmania chief executive Matt Bulkeley said the new facility would be a “game changer” for the sport.

He said the northern suburbs had lacked a centralised playing hub and the new grounds would host up to 500 matches a year.

“Many of the northern suburbs clubs are currently playing out of fairly modest facilities and we believe this will help accommodate further growth,” he said.

“FFT are delighted with the result Mr Wilkie has secured and we’re grateful for the Federal Government for the injection of funds into football.”

Mr Wilkie told the Mercury it was “one of his biggest wins for the electorate”.

“It’s a fabulous development, I’m really proud and quite excited,” he said.

Mr Wilkie has now delivered more than $53 million in federal funding for the electorate since the Federal Government lost its majority in October last year.

“This goes to show, if you make the case on merit, projects can get funding,” Mr Wilkie said. “This is about me saying to Chigwell that you’re every bit as important as the rest of the state.”

He said although soccer was the most popular sport in Tasmania, it was often the most neglected and he was “proud to be a cheerleader for the code”.