Lights switched on at Newcomb and St Albans

TWO of Geelong’s biggest sporting clubs will have the option to expand its footballing programs and capabilities thanks to new floodlights.

Newcomb Football Netball Club and St Albans Football Netball Club flicked the switches on their new lighting systems last week, giving them the option to host senior night football matches and offer evening programming.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens was at the official opening for Newcomb’s new lights, citing new possibilities for the club’s female program.

“These new lights provide grass roots clubs like Newcomb Power with the facilities to train and potentially play night games in the future,” Ms Couzens said.

“Newcomb Power will now have greater capacity to support more women’s and girl’s teams and offer first-rate facilities to attract more local players.”

Both Newcomb and St Albans are the latest in a list of five other reserves to receive new lights.

Locations including Osborne Park in North Geelong, Evans Reserve in Norlane, St Leonards Lake Reserve in St Leonards, Winter Reserve in Belmont, and Burdoo Reserve in Grovedale have been relit in the past year.

The new lights were made possible thanks to $2.5 million from the Victorian government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.

City of Greater Geelong Cr Eddy Kontelj said the city is grateful for the state government’s investment in local sport with clubs like St Albans FNC to see dividends in the future.

“It’s great news for the Supersaints and we’re appreciative to the Victorian government for its support of the development of grassroots sport,” Cr Kontelj said.

“There’s an increase in female participation in football across the board and this sort of development will play a significant role in helping the club cater for the growing need for training-time availability.”

GDFNL finals will begin on August 20 with all football and netball contests to be held at St Albans Reserve.

Grinter Reserve will host the BFNL preliminary and grand finals on August 27 and September 3.