To preface, we’re aware that Adelaide isn’t in NSW but we feel this is an important issue to weigh in on.
Football has always been up against government bodies, usually in the form of missing out on funding from state and federal governments, or being used as a political football prior to elections.
Now we have a situation where Adelaide Comets have had a new pitch laid, new lights and light towers however the Adelaide City Council have voted against the installation of perimeter fencing for the pitch. To summarise “Our senior teams have had to play at other locations… costing in excess of $50,000 annually… to bring the teams home we require a 1.1m pitch fence that meets Football SA licensing conditions.”
The club received funds from the state government in 2022 however they are now unable to purchase the equipment they had planned to. In November they started the first of three presentations for approval for the fencing. The Adelaide Park lands Authority voted yes.
In the second meeting a week ago, 9/12 elected members voted yes to proceed with the installation. The last meeting on Tuesday 13th February went the other way. Three of the members that voted for the installation flipped and voted against it. If you want to read more, please see the below statement from Adelaide Comets.
Dear Comets Players, Members and Parents
— Adelaide Comets FC (@AdelaideComets) February 14, 2024
Please refer to the attached letter from the Adelaide Comets Football Club Board related to the pitch development project.
Yours in Sport
Board of the Adelaide Comets Football Club pic.twitter.com/DAXfZi7iLg
We all know this wouldn’t be the case if the Comets played using their hands and the ball was a different shape.
To put this into perspective, 43 sides are again displaced from their home ground that has had a lot of hard work from volunteers put into it.
Luckily, the SA premier has made his stance known. Peter Malinauskas speaking in favour of the installation.
The premier has weighed into a stoush between a premier league soccer club and the Adelaide City Council. The Adelaide Comets want to erect a fence around their home grounds but permission has been denied. Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. @AndreaLNicolas #saparli #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/tQkToxYf0j
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) February 15, 2024
The kicker? Councillors are concerned that a fence would deter families from using Ellis park, that putting up fences and charging costs for entry goes against the spirit of open and accessible parklands.
This is nothing new and I’m sure you could probably throw a rock and hit an AFL field with a fence around it.
Here’s the deputy mayor bragging about the decision on Facebook. We encourage comments on the post to pressure them in the name of football to make the right decision:
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkeiransnapeprogressive%2Fposts%2Fpfbid035ziE25cthNvGoJPe9etAcTurM8LzvFiV8vuMVeXDBLu4bLiXQzhTgbYnAF3PobcZl&show_text=true&width=500
The latest body to weigh in on the issue is Football SA with CEO Michael Carter supporting the club and football. Read more on his statement here.
Stay tuned to the Adelaide Comets socials where they will share more information about how you can help. As members of the football community, we must come together to support one another in advocating for the interests of the game.