Seville Cricket Club committee member Sam Dicello and Seville Football and Netball Club president Sole Cecere say their clubs could fold without the sponsorship for signs the council told them to remove from Mr Dicello’s land.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
SEVILLE sports clubs say they are at risk after Yarra Ranges Council refused to let them keep their game location and sponsor signs on private land.
Seville Football and Netball Club and Seville Cricket Club have displayed the signs for many years.
They inform the community of upcoming games and promote their sponsors.
But after being told the signs required a permit because they were on green wedge land, the council sent the landholder a letter saying the signs had to be removed or a fine would be issued.
Yarra Ranges Council said the sign was not allowed because it was commercial and did not relate to the land where it was located.
But the clubs say they rely on major sponsorship money from the signs’ location to pay for club room fees, umpires, balls and any other item they require.
President of Seville Football Netball Club Sole Cecere said without the money that came from that sign’s location, “we’re gone”.
“Most of the time, we only just break even and long term it will affect running of the club,” he said.
“It’s getting harder every year, but to lose this sponsorship opportunity it can mean up to $5000… that’s the difference of a club folding.”
Sam Dicello, who is the landowner and a committee member of the Seville Cricket Club, said he was disappointed with the situation, which would affect the cricket club’s livelihood.
“It’s crazy they would pick on us when I’m doing a community service,” he said.
“It’s money the clubs can’t afford to lose.”
Both club officials pointed out the fact there were signs everywhere along the Warburton Highway, not necessarily relating to the land they’re on, and questioned why they were being picked on.
Mr Dicello said it was a two-fold sign, “it told the people if the game was away or home and who they played, as well as who sponsored the clubs”.
“At the end of the day the council should be there for the people and if the people want this they should be supporting it,” he said. “Sure, if the signs were handwritten and ugly I can understand, but these were properly printed and looked professional.”
Mr Dicello said after 50 years in the community, he wanted to give back by allowing the clubs to put the signs on his property.
“I’m not making a cent out of it and the clubs do need that sponsorship and if I can’t have my signs then every sign in the place should be pulled down,” he said.
Mr Dicello said the sponsors were all family-owned local businesses which needed the support as well.
“Both clubs struggle to get sponsorship and it’s not as if Seville is over endowed with businesses…we need to promote them so they can support us,” he said.
“We coach these kids to promote the game and keep the kids off the streets.
“At the end of the day if those four (junior) teams weren’t playing cricket, what would they be doing?”
Chandler Ward councillor and Mayor Graham Warren said he was surprised that no one from the clubs had approached him, but he was happy to look into the issue.
“I understand the need for sporting clubs to raise revenue, which does have to be balanced with what’s allowed,” he said.
The council’s Director of Planning, Building and Health Andrew Paxton said the situation came about through a complaint made to the council in 2010.
He said the permit application was refused under green wedge zone regulations because the signs primarily promote the businesses, are commercial in nature and are for companies that are not located on the site.
Mr Paxton said the council had a sports policy for advertising and sponsorship which addressed similar issues.
“There are many ways that clubs can promote and recognise the contributions of their sponsors,” he said.
“(The) council would be very happy to sit down with the Seville Football Netball Club and Cricket Club and discuss how they can promote their clubs in ways consistent with the planning scheme.”
