MEDIA RELEASE

22 August 2021

Sporting code changes lead to multimillion dollar sporting hub redevelopment

The Max Amber Sportsfield is undergoing a $10 million sporting hub redevelopment designed for inclusivity and sustainability, as part of Federal, State and local government funding programs.

At over seven hectares and located at George Street, Paradise, the site’s potential was identified previously for redevelopment by the City of Campbelltown. The timing of the Sportsfield’s transformation into a sporting hub is in response to current sporting trends and the need to expedite sporting code changes at local community clubs.

The existing Max Amber Sportsfield’s clubrooms and amenities, built in 1976, were designed exclusively for male athletes. The new hub will reinvigorate a growing community and represent all members.

The President of the Athelstone Football Club Stephen Young said the Club is expected to thrive under the new design since the new infrastructure will be suited to all users, particularly females.

“There will be a sense of equality between the male and female sporting teams playing for the same code for the first time,” Mr Young said.

“The new amenities will empower our female users and the new changerooms will be suited to their needs – no longer will we see girls changing their clothes in cars or going home without showering.

“Just as exciting, lighting surrounding our clubrooms and amenities will be designed with safety in mind, and connect safely, the facilities to the expanded carparks.

“Without a doubt, the inclusion of female teams in football and cricket, has fast-tracked our redevelopment campaign, once the State and Federal Governments realised current sporting trends were here to stay.”

The new sporting hub, expected to be completed by 31 December 2021, will include male and female change rooms, a new two-storey club room, a re-aligned football field, separate tennis and soccer club rooms, a maintenance shed, cricket field, netball facilities, expanded carparking area, and with indigenous components incorporated into the design.

It will be home to the Athelstone Football Club, Athelstone Cricket Club, Athelstone Soccer Club, Athelstone Tennis Club, and used by the Eastern United Football Club, Norwood Soccer Club and the Australian Retired Persons Association.

The new sporting hub is funded by the Federal Government’s Community Development Grants program, the State Government’s Grass Roots Football, Cricket and Netball Facilities program, and the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund.

For more information, visit https://www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/development/major-projects/max-amber-sportsfield-redevelopment or contact the City of Campbelltown on (08) 8366 9222.

Media enquiries:

Julia Harold, Communications, Max Amber Sportsfield Hub, 0000 444 333.

BACKGROUNDER

LONGEVITY

Athelstone Football Club was established in 1904 at the corner of Maryvale Road and Addison Avenue in Athelstone. Local gardeners used hessian bags as their guernseys, and became known as ‘The Raggies’, as they are still known today.

In 1971 the club moved to Foxfield Oval with separate clubrooms at Glynde, and by 1976, the club found its current home at 150 George Street, Paradise.

GAME HISTORY

The club has achieved varying successes over the years.

 In 1996 and again in 2019, the club won Division 2. During the season of 2020, the club played for Division 1. Today the club plays for the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL).

The club is affiliated with the SAAFL and the North Eastern Metro Junior Football Association.

FEMALE PARTICIPATION

Female juniors started in 2018 and since 2019 a Women’s Team has participated in Division 5 (SAAFL).

UNSUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Football games were experienced from the sidelines at below the level of the oval, which obscured views and detracted from the experience of the game. Infrastructure of the main clubrooms have been in decline for years.

FINANCES

The Athelstone Football Club struggled to increase memberships and lobbied the government for a redevelopment for many years. The old infrastructure failed to ignite interest from the community and find enthusiastic volunteers. The same volunteers were responsible for the club’s obligations placing a burden on their health and wellbeing. However, the club has been more successful in achieving sponsorships.

Inevitably, the club has traded at a loss, and regularly seeks financial assistance from the City of Campbelltown who have actively sought proposals for redevelopment since 2015.

STATISTICS

A total 7,594 women players were registered in SANFL football in 2019, and 10,000 participated within schools.

Of the total 2019 SA registered 54,290 players, females represented 14%.

Auskick female participation increased by 15% from 2018 to 2019.

By 2020, the increase rose by 24%.

Magarey Medallist Jade Sheedy has regularly coached the senior male team over the last 10 years in recognition of the senior committee member’s dedication and efforts.

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