Gloucester Soccer Club has completed another major project with the installation of light around one of its fields.
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According to club president John Hughes, it's just another step forward in the club's 10 year plan.
"First we built the canteen and club room, and now we've done the lights," John explained.
Having a long term plan for the future growth of the club is important to John and given the increase in club members over recent years, it seems to be working.
We had 180 players signed up for the winter competition from ages five to 18. COVID closed the competition in August - just three or four weeks short of the finals.
- John Hughes
"We had 180 players signed up for the winter competition from ages five to 18," he said.
Unfortunately, like many other sporting clubs COVID had an impact.
"COVID closed the competition in August - just three or four weeks short of the finals."
The COVID shutdown meant there was no presentation, so the club decided to hold a launch day for the new lights combined with a club presentation and sponsor day on Saturday December 4 after restrictions had eased.
Around 130 people attended the event, including member for Upper Hunter, Dave Layzell. Mr Layzell took part in the official unveiling of the plaque on the switchboard box on the side of the Gloucester Recreation Centre building. Having not seen the plaque prior to the reveal, Mr Layzell was taken aback. It was the first time since being elected into the position, that he'd seen his name on a plaque.
Launching the lights marked the end of a near 40 year journey for the club. Before the lights, the club had to use the Bert Gallagher or Number One Oval for summer 6s or winter training. Now these can be held on the club's international sized field - it's the one closest to the caravan park in Gloucester District Park.
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The new lights were financed by a $164,000 infrastructure grant through the NSW Government's Clubgrants fund. Originally, the club was aiming for 12 lights across the four poles, however, after they broke ground, additional work was required for the footings, so the poles were shorten and one less light was installed in order to stay on budget.
Thinking ahead for future development, the club set up two poles for moveable lights that, when installed, can swivel to light the next field across. Also, the lights are wired to be turned on individually meaning the club can save money on lighting cost and only light up the areas needed.
The next project on the list for the club's 10 year plan are change rooms.