Community Footy Clubs receive funding boost

As many as 15 Community Football Clubs have received more than $8.4M in State Government funding under its PLAN.BUILD.PLAY Sports Infrastructure Funding Program announced in January.

Clubs from as far as Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula and Mundulla in the South East were successful, together with large regional clubs such as Tanunda in the Barossa Valley and Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Several metropolitan clubs – including Adelaide Lutheran, Port District and Prince Alfred Old Collegians – were also granted funds, bringing the total spend of current projects to as much as $21.4 million.

The continued growth of female football participation, coupled with the need for lighting upgrades and structural improvements, has sparked the requirement for investment in new and upgraded facilities across the state.

As a result, the State Government has contributed more than $19.1m to support facility projects at South Australian football clubs since June 2021.

“Pleasingly, we’ve seen significant investment from state governments over the past five years into community football facilities through grassroots infrastructure funding,” SANFL Infrastructure Manager Belinda Marsh said.

”This remains a strong focus for SANFL and supports football being the most participated club-based sport in the State. The value of football clubs to their local community cannot be understated, together with the impact this funding will have on benefiting the broader community through enabling inclusion and active participation in footy.”

The Tanunda Magpies received $1.5m to upgrade its club and changerooms as part of The Barossa Council’s ”The Big Project” infrastructure program to be implemented across the region over the next 30 years.

On the Eyre Peninsula, the Cummins Kapinnie Cougars and the Cummins Ramblers jointly received nearly $1.2m for a clubroom redevelopment while the Port Lincoln Football League was awarded funding for an outdoor shelter.

In the South-East, Mundulla (changerooms), Mt Burr (lighting), Bordertown (club and changerooms) and Millicent (outdoor shelter) were granted financial support.

Adelaide Lutheran received the most significant funding for a metropolitan club, with more than $1.5m to be put towards the club and changerooms while Modbury FC secured $1.5m for its club and changeroom in conjunction with Tea Tree Gully Council.