FC Leopold eyes May completion for new pavilion

FC LEOPOLD was founded as a soccer club back in 2016 and is now only a few months away from finally having a place to call home.

Construction of the $2 million pavilion at Estuary Reserve, the home of FC Leopold, broke ground in July of 2021 and was expected to be completed by the end of last year.

However, COVID-19 induced delays have pushed back completion to just three months from now in May, a month the club is eagerly waiting for.

“We say May loosely given the City of Greater Geelong has told us that more delays might occur, but we can feel completion getting closer and that’s really exciting,” FC Leopold junior coordinator Lisa de Vries said.

“The pavilion will provide quality facilities, including female-friendly ones, which we haven’t had as a club to start with, as well as the ability to raise financial support for the club through means of functions and fundraisers.”

Construction of the club’s pavilion will come at a good time arriving on the back of new lighting installed in 2018.

The club hopes the various new upgrades will increase FC Leopold’s membership base across its junior Miniroos and Juniors programs, creating a flow-on effect into its senior sides in future years.

“One big deterrent in the past was our lack of rooms,” de Vries said.

“This was especially problematic over the last few seasons due to COVID.

“Across any given weekend we could potentially have up to eight to 10 games in one weekend without the proper change facilities to cater for them.”

In addition to regulation changing rooms in accordance with Football Victoria guidelines, there will be new shower facilities, a function room and a fully operational kitchen which will also serve as a canteen on gamedays.

A total of $250,000 was also given by the state government as part of the World Game Facilities Fund, to push forward Victoria’s objective to help football clubs retain players and attract new participants with new infrastructure.

“While our current season will prove to be a bit of a challenge with no facilities while the build is happening, we are all very hopeful they will be worth the wait and look forward to what they will mean to the club long term,” de Vries said.

“The club had similar excitement when the lights went up a few years ago.

“Now they get to see the end result when the pavilion goes up in May and that’s going to be an awesome time, especially for the younger kids when they look back to this time.”