Pittwater RSL FC welcome game-changing LED light upgrade at Kitchener Park

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Pittwater RSL FC lighting upgrade
Image credit: Football NSW

Pittwater RSL FC have announced the completion of their fantastic new state-of-the-art LED lighting system at their home ground Kitchener Park.

The club have reaped the rewards of the NSW Football Legacy Fund as their latest project with the Northern Beaches Council securing the maximum contribution of $150,000 in Round 1 of the Legacy Fund earlier this year.

The installation of six new light poles with efficient LED lights means the lights are now up to current Australian Standards for soccer which is a huge milestone.

The lights are centrally controlled allowing users to switch to a training mode which reduces the energy output. This creates a training environment that increases safety and security as well as the club now being able to host night games, a privilege absent for numerous years.

Ben Collock, President of Pittwater RSL FC, expressed his delight at the opportunities this brings for the club in the future in Football NSW’s press release.

“We can now play night games for the first time in this clubs history,” he said.

“The first night game we played was the women’s premier league, which had a great attendance and was really exciting.”

Pittwater RSL FC are anticipating a major influx in new female participants thanks to the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and this upgrade is vital in ensuring that the club can cater to the extra members that are due to arrive.

The women’s game has always been a big focus for Pittwater RSL FC, with the club now boasting a football community of over 1,200 members and more than 35% of that consisting of female player registrations.

NSW Legacy Facilities and Grants Officer, James Spanoudakis explained the decision to choose Kitchener Park for the funding, adding via media release:

“The lighting upgrade at Kitchener Park has already proven to be an invaluable asset for Pittwater RSL FC,” he said

“The new lights will amplify the clubs capacity by an additional 3-4 sessions per night and allow night games in the largest football association in NSW.

“The lighting upgrade will provide female footballers with extended opportunities to relish the sport alongside their friends and will inspire their engagement with the game for years to come.”

This lighting upgrade at Kitchener Park is a great use of funds by Football NSW as it brings a multitude of benefits for a striving club that has a clear goal of rapidly increasing female participation and the potential to expand Kitchener Park into a more useful venue.

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South Canberra FC Breaks the Mold: Equity-Driven Model Earns ‘Club Changer’ Honour

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Image Credit: SCFC

South Canberra Football Club has been named Club Changer of the Month for April, in a recognition that reflects a broader shift across Australian football toward rewarding clubs that are actively dismantling the structural barriers limiting women’s access to the game.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has just delivered record crowds and unprecedented visibility for women’s football in Australia, and the Club Changer program is now asking what comes next. Its decision to name South Canberra Football Club as Club Changer of the Month for April signals a clear shift in how the program defines contribution: away from participation numbers alone, and toward the equity frameworks that determine whether women stay in the game once they arrive.

South Canberra FC built that framework from the ground up. Established in 2021, the club set out to give women and female-identifying players a safe, inclusive environment to play football at any level. It runs entirely on volunteers, operates as a not-for-profit, and is governed by an all-female committee with 13 of its 14 coaches identifying as female.

 

Building the infrastructure of inclusion

In 2026, the club secured grant funding and put it to work immediately. Two coaches are completing their C Licence qualification, and ten coaches, players and community members have undertaken the Foundations of Football course, which directly tackles the cost and accessibility barriers that exclude women out of coaching pathways.

The club also commissioned a female-specific strength and conditioning program with sports physiotherapists ahead of the 2026 season, targeting injury prevention and explicitly supporting players returning after childbirth.

SCFC’s leadership team draws from LGBTIQ+ individuals, First Nations people and veterans, strengthening the club’s connection to the communities it was built to represent.

The Club Changer program is backing clubs that do this work- clubs that treat equity as infrastructure rather than aspiration. At a moment when Australian football is under pressure to turn its biggest-ever surge of women’s interest into something lasting, SCFC’s model offers a clear answer to the question of how.

How Husqvarna Is Helping Stadiums Cut Costs Without Cutting Quality

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Image Credit: Husqvarna

At a time when operational costs are rising across global sport, stadiums and football clubs are being forced to rethink one of their most overlooked expenses: turf maintenance.

From diesel consumption to labour hours, maintaining elite playing surfaces has traditionally been both resource-intensive and environmentally taxing. But new data emerging from venues like CBUS Super Stadium suggests a smarter, more sustainable model is already taking hold.

Leading that shift is Husqvarna, whose autonomous turf technology is quietly reshaping how professional venues manage their playing surfaces. Their product delivers measurable cost savings without compromising quality.

Cutting fuel consumption costs

At CBUS Super Stadium, the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™ robotic mowing system has reduced diesel usage by approximately 20–30 litres per week. Over the course of a season, those savings compound into a significant reduction in both fuel spend and carbon emissions. This is particularly efficient for stadiums hosting regular fixtures and large-scale events.

CBUS Super Stadium General Manager Kristian Blundell said the robotic mower was a game-changer for the venue:

“This technology is not replacing staff but rather giving our grounds team the ability to do what they do best by helping to improve turf management processes, better manage fatigue and decrease our environmental footprint”

But the impact goes beyond fuel.

 

Time efficiency

By automating routine mowing, Husqvarna’s technology enables grounds teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks, from pitch recovery to detailed surface management. The result is not only greater operational efficiency but also improved turf consistency, which is an increasingly critical factor in elite football performance.

The benefits are being mirrored beyond stadium environments. At Oatlands Golf Club, Husqvarna’s autonomous mowing has delivered savings of up to 60 litres of fuel per week while freeing up staff for precision work. Quiet, round-the-clock operation also ensures surfaces are maintained without disrupting play—an advantage that translates directly to multi-use stadium settings.

Image Credit: Husqvarna

Importantly, Husqvarna’s lightweight robotic systems reduce the wear and tear typically caused by traditional heavy machinery. This not only protects the integrity of the playing surface but also reduces the need for costly repairs over time.

Football clubs navigating tight budgets at grassroots and semi-professional levels could benefit from such cost savings.

With rising energy prices, increasing sustainability expectations, and limited staffing resources, the ability to cut costs while improving performance is no longer optional. Solutions like Husqvarna’s CEORA™ are positioning clubs to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for a more environmentally accountable future.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: the next competitive edge may not just come from what happens on the pitch—but how it’s maintained.

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