By Jed Lanyon
New LED lighting has been installed at Lilydale Sports Oval in hopes of the venue hosting night matches and boosting player numbers for teams for Lilydale Football Club.
President Anthony Simmons said the teams would no longer be restricted to using only half the field when training at night.
“We can utilise the whole of the ground now that the lights will be of a decent standard and playing will be safer for everyone,” he said.
“It decreases the traffic on the small section that was illuminated before, meaning that there is less wear and tear across the ground.”
Seniors player Brad Lowe said that at certain times last season, their field turned black due to being overused.
The new lights came at a time of need after a sharp increase in female participation.
“Our first female team formed about four years ago and we knew we needed to secure decent facilities including proper showers, which we did fund, in order to attract more players,” Mr Simmons said.
The club now fields four girls and women’s teams.
One Falcon, Zoe, said she found her love for footy after her friend invited her to training.
“Being able to kick a footy for the first time and then kicking and joining in with the boys at school made me love football a bit more,” she said.
“There is a really friendly and inviting environment that makes me want to keep coming back.
“It’s really fun.”
The entire project is worth $205,000, with $25,000 coming from Lilydale Football Club, $70,000 from the State Government’s Sport and Recreation Victoria grant program and $110,000 from Yarra Ranges Council’s sports field renewal program.
