Landmark deal announced between Geelong soccer clubs

GEELONG Galaxy will have a new home pitch leading into the 2022 season and beyond.

The Galaxy will call Hume Reserve, the home field of fellow Geelong-based side Corio Soccer Club, its own as part of a three-year understanding between the two clubs.

Hume Reserve is currently in the midst of a $3.2 million upgrade with new club rooms, new change rooms, a gymnasium and a physio room to be available in 2022 once the renovation is complete.

The partnership between the two clubs serves many benefits for both parties according to Galaxy president Branko Krstevski, particularly providing a better pathway for female footballers to develop their skills to an elite level at both organisations.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as a club to partner with Corio SC,” Krstevski said.

“It’s a longer-term agreement with it being a minimum of three years so that’s great in the sense that we have more security for the club.

“It will benefit Geelong’s female players given they will have access to these top-tier facilities so it will benefit both clubs in that sense and more.”

In addition to its men’s squads, Corio SC will be able provide an improved pathway for its own U7s, U9s and U11s girls by joining Galaxy’s well-regarded U13, U15 and U17s junior NPWL program.

Hume Reserve’s two fields will now be in use seven days a week during seasons for both training and games, with Corio’s participation numbers expected to increase from 200 to 300 players.

The partnership currently stands as a memorandum of understanding, but Krstevski said the two teams are in the process of finalising a “financial arrangement” in what is being described as a “sub-leasing agreement”.

The Galaxy brings with them three junior sides and two senior teams, one being a competitor in the state’s the VPLW competition, a rung below the National Premier League.

“We’re going to bring an elite football program to their club,” Krstevic said.

“It’s going to open a door to a lot of their juniors with all of our qualified coaching staff jumping on board. We will be happy to share resources.”

Geelong Galaxy had previously played at Banyul Warri Reserve from 2016 to 2018 and Stead Park from 2019 to 2021.