Box Hill United receives green light for $2.8 million facility upgrade project

Box Hill United are set to benefit from a $2.8 million facility upgrade project at the club’s training base at Sparks Reserve, with works set to begin in September of this year.

The project will include the construction of a new satellite pavilion which will have four female-friendly changerooms, referee changerooms, a canteen, a first aid room, a storage room, public toilets and a covered external concourse for spectator viewing.

The Whitehorse City Council are funding the majority of the upgrades, with the state government tipping in $500,000 through the World Game Facilities Fund.

President of Box Hill United, George Petheriotis, welcomed the upgrades, which he explained had been in the works for the past few years.

“It was something we were working on with our council for many years,” he told Soccerscene.

“The club’s been around for almost 100 years and it’s never had appropriate facilities at Sparks Reserve. We’ve got a fantastic complex at Wembley Park across the road, but at Sparks Reserve (which is our training ground) we haven’t had the right facilities.

“The club has continued to grow over the years and we needed the facilities upgraded because it was too far for players of any age to walk over to Wembley Park to use amenities and so forth.

“Because of the growth of football and women’s football in the area, council got to a point where it acknowledged that the facilities needed to be updated, which was fantastic.”

With the female friendly changerooms a major part of the facility upgrades, Petheriotis explained how important it was for the club to have a true home for all types of football players.

“It’s of paramount importance. The club was really struggling to function without changerooms and attract players, especially female players,” he said.

“People don’t just want to roll up and train on a piece of land and go home, they want to go to a place where they want to be at and spend some time at. This includes the parents who come and drop off their kids, and want to hang around and have a look at training.

“Now, they’ll have that area to observe, purchase something from the canteen and so forth.”

The club, but also the local community, are set to be the big winners of the $2.8 million project.

“The benefits for the club include the good it will do for our players, who are very committed to their own football development,” Petheriotis stated.

“Being a premier NPL club for both men and women, they get access to warm changerooms, showers and places which are comfortable. We are finally getting a facility which makes the club feel like home, rather than just an open piece of land.

“In terms of the community, it cleans up the area. It makes it look more attractive and is safer, through pathways, driveways, parking, lighting and gardens, so it really makes the area look a lot nicer and more accessible.”

Alongside the upgrades project, which is set to be completed by June of next year, the club have recently received lighting upgrades at Wembley Park through council and state government funding, allowing the club to host night games.

The 200 LUX lighting upgrades came at a total cost of around $550,000.

Despite this, Box Hill are still looking for further necessary upgrades, which will look to take the club to the next level and move them towards an even brighter future.

“We are (looking for more upgrades). Along with the clubrooms that are being built now, I believe the final piece of the puzzle for Sparks Reserve is a hybrid synthetic surface,” Petheriotis said.

“We are not a club that is a summer or winter sport, we are an all-year soccer club that trains its players for 48 weeks of the year, so the hybrid surface is necessary. We have players from the age of four to seniors in both men and women, and they need a ground they can train on for the entire year.

“Unfortunately, as much as we all want grass, the grass doesn’t hold up for the whole year, so a hybrid synthetic is something that we need there to secure the club’s future as a premier development club.

“We want to keep kids off the street and play the game they love so they can aspire to be professionals. We know it’s very hard to achieve but we want to provide a place where people can strive to achieve their dreams.”

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New initiatives advancing girls’ and women’s football participation

A Government program designed to increase female participation in sports will provide almost 50 clubs and organisations with support to upgrade and develop sporting facilities, programs and equipment.

Around $5.4 million has been allocated for the 2024-25 round of The Power of Her – Infrastructure and Participation Program (IPP), which aims to create more inclusive spaces for girls and women in sports.

The funded projects include things like unisex clubrooms, better lighting and playing surfaces, new uniforms and equipment, and opportunities for professional development.

The South Australian Government led by Peter Malinauskas launched the program to build on the success of the Matildas and the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To support the growth of girls’ and women’s football, 14 football clubs will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding this round.

Other sports also benefit from the program, such as basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and Australian Rules Football, providing more chances for girls and women to get involved and succeed in their chosen sports.

For example, Norwood Basketball Club is receiving $14,600 to launch their ‘Rising Flames’ program, helping girls progress to elite senior levels and develop local talent.

Other projects funded through the program include:

  • Metro United Women’s Football Club, Pooraka: $25,000 for new uniforms.
  • Booleroo Centre Tennis Club: $80,000 to resurface three tennis courts, replace fencing, and build a new equipment shed for their drought-affected club.
  • Cove Netball Hub: $392,700 to build four new netball courts in Hallett Cove.
  • Elizabeth Grove Soccer Club: $750,000 (through the council) for a new clubroom, synthetic soccer pitch, and multi-purpose oval at Munno Para Regional Sportsground, Davoren Park.

So far, over $7.6 million has been distributed through the IPP, with the second year providing more than twice the amount of support compared to the first round.

Nearly half of the infrastructure project recipients this round – including Jervois Bluds Netball Club and Murraylands Gymnastics Academy – are located in regional and greater metropolitan areas, showing the broad impact on communities across South Australia.

The State Government has committed $18 million to the IPP over three years, with $10 million specifically set aside for football.

This effort is part of a wider push to eliminate barriers to female participation, including support for clubs with period products and menstrual health training.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily MLC Bourke highlighted the importance of supporting women in sport at a grassroots level.

“Our Government recognises the importance of supporting grassroots sports to ensure girls and women have opportunities to thrive in whichever sport they pursue,” she said in a press release.

“Having the right facilities, programs and equipment in place gives girls and women the space and confidence they need to get involved and stay active with their local club.

“As The Power of Her investment continues to grow, it’s inspiring to see clubs and organisations finding new and creative ways to grow female participation and facilitate high performance pathways in their communities.”

For more information, you can find the full list of 2024-2025 IPP grants here.

Coalition Pledges $2 Million for Heidelberg United Facilities Upgrade

Heidelberg United proposed 2 million grant from Coalition.

In a major boost for local sport and community engagement, the Coalition has announced a $2 million funding commitment to Heidelberg United Alexander Football Club, should it win the upcoming federal election.

The announcement was made in the electorate of Jagajaga by Liberal candidate Chris Parr, joined by local MP Keith Wolahan and Senator James Paterson.

Chris Parr has been applauded for his work behind the scenes to push for the funding to upgrade the Victoria NPL clubs’ grounds.

The investment will fund significant upgrades to the club’s facilities, including the development of an Olympic Museum, expanded training areas, open green space, and larger clubrooms to accommodate growing community use.

Parr took to social media to announce the funding promise.

“It is just so important to keep our kids engaged, our parents volunteering and families achieving in all our community activities,” commented Parr via his official social media accounts.

“I’m proud to be part of a team that recognises the importance of community infrastructure.”

The announcement has been welcomed as a win for local families, sports enthusiasts, and volunteers, with the Coalition emphasising its commitment to strengthening communities by partnering with local groups and the Banyule City Council.

Heidelberg United Alexander FC expressed its appreciation in a public statement.

“Thank you to the Liberal Party of Australia and Chris Parr for his commitment to this great club and icon in the community. Thank you for the support,” via Heidelberg United social media accounts.

The proposed upgrades aim to support both the club’s on-field development and its broader role as a community hub, providing accessible spaces for a wide range of local activities.

For the Warriors, who boast a rich history in Australian football dating back to their formation in 1958, these improvements represent a significant step forward in their ongoing development program.

The proposed upgrades to green spaces and training areas are important upgrades to the playing spaces for the club and community. The Museum is also an important pledge to the proud history of the club and its majorly Greek ancestry.

With big changes on the horizon for Australian Football with the National Second Division (NSD), such an instrumental club in Australian and Victorian football could use this funding and upgraded facilities to push for a place in the NSD.

For Liberal Candidate Chris Parr it’s a smart political move for the coming election to wrestle the seat away from current Labor representative Kate Thwaites, who’s held the federal seat since 2019.

It’s a strong statement of intent both from the Coalition and from the Football club.

Sport holds a powerful place in Australian communities and is an underused space in election politics. If elected, delivering on the promise is the important next step.

Australians have seen before when election promises aren’t delivered, and politicians should be wary of the public’s reaction.

It will be a huge improvement for the club and area if achieved and an interesting space to watch in the coming weeks.

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