Seagulls hit the scoreboard with new upgrade

ONE of the Bellarine Football League’s most historical clubs has finally received a new upgrade to its ground, and it is a sight for sore eyes after years of lobbying to local politicians and a recent COVID-19 outbreak that rocked the area.

The Barwon Heads Seagulls Football Club are enjoying the benefits of their new $60,000 scoreboard, which will aid the club with their gameday operations moving forward.

“It’s a bloody ripper!” said Seagulls club president Tim Goddard.

“When people rock up to the club, they can say Barwon Heads is on its game on and off the field. If we don’t have good scoreboards, good lights, a good oval and good facilities we can’t show respect to our players, our sponsors and our supporters and it’s all about that really.”

The club approached federal MP for Corangamite Libby Coker requesting additional funds to help acquire the new high-tech scoreboard, which the club had been in desperate need of for some time.

“It’s quite a lot of money, but it makes a huge difference for the spectators to be involved with the games and to see the scoreboard which is great,” Ms Coker said.

“In addition to their new lights, it has really been a process of gradual upgrading for the club, and it has been fantastic.”
Over the last five or so years, a new scoreboard started to become a necessity due to the increasing number of participants at the club, and the demand began to really ramp up according to the president.

“Fielding 31 teams and having 850 players, the need was certainly there,” Mr Goddard said.

“Half of our football and netball clubs are female, and we get so many teams here over Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday, as well as Auskick.

“So, the scoreboard was definitely necessary.”

The good news lifts morale across the town as the area recently emerged from the recent Barwon Heads Primary School COVID-19 outbreak, and Ms Coker sees the timing of the club’s recent upgrade as beneficial.

“It’s really just a celebration of Barwon Heads coming out of lockdown. What an effort by this club and this community,” she said.

“A lot of people during the pandemic have turned to sport as a means of enjoyment and connection and so to support the club is great.”

Despite there not being any spectators during last weekend’s club games, it is certainly a step in the right direction for all parties involved.