On the ball: Ocean Grove Soccer Club’s Ian Waugh and Brian Burgess look forward to the lighting upgrade.
MICHELLE HERBISON
OCEAN Grove’s soccer club will soon be training and playing at night after State Government this week announced a $100,000 grant.
Surfside Waves was one of 11 Victorian clubs to score a share in the Government’s $840,000 Strengthening the World Game Program.
Club president Brian Burgess said the money would pay for sports lighting on two pitches.
The club was presently without lighting.
“It will act as a magnet to the club,” Mr Burgess said.
“If people see us training at night it will invite them to join.”
Mr Burgess said the players would be “absolutely rapt” to be able to train regularly on their home ground.
“All the talk around the club is about when we’ll get these new lights – the players want to train on our ground and not use other facilities. At the moment they’re training wherever they can or not at all.”
Mr Burgess said the lack of lighting had reduced training opportunities at Ocean Grove or forced teams to travel to alternative facilities, such as Drysdale’s indoor pitch.
Membership had declined to 120 from 200 a couple of years ago, he said.
“We can only put it down to our lack of facilities.”
This year the club had 12 teams from under nines to seniors for men and women.
Member for Western Victoria Region David O’Brien said the funding would help the club grow.
“By improving local facilities and playing conditions we can boost memberships, participation, home-ground support and get more people more active more often at Shell Road Reserve,” he said.
