Kingsway United Christian Football Club president Anthony LePore wants better lighting on this oval.
Camera IconKingsway United Christian Football Club president Anthony LePore wants better lighting on this oval. Credit: Supplied/Emma Reeves

Young players turned away

Tyler Brown, Joondalup TimesWanneroo Times

The Kingsway United Christian Football Club currently has eight teams of 183 junior and 34 senior players.

President Anthony LePore said the club could have fielded another two or three teams but there was not enough room to take any more registrations.

The club uses a number of different venues in the City of Wanneroo and is hoping to consolidate all activities at Koondoola’s Shelvock Reserve.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The 18-year-old boys’ team trains every Tuesday night but lack of adequate lighting at the reserve means it is the only team able to practise.

‘We would like to have all teams at one venue,’ Mr LePore said.

‘We are at so many different locations that we lose that community feel in the club.

‘Families with children in different age groups have to run around to two or three venues on training nights.’

He said being part of the WA Christian Football Association also meant they were the only junior soccer club that played on Saturdays rather than Sundays.

‘We aren’t limited to Christians, we have all sorts of people playing with us but some families might prefer to play on a Saturday, so it gives them that opportunity,’ he said.

‘If they don’t want to play on Sundays, we’re the only option.’

Last month councillor Brett Treby moved a motion to install lighting at Shelvock Reserve.

Cr Stuart Mackenzie and Mayor Tracey Roberts agreed on the move at the meeting.

‘As a strong supporter of sport within our community, it is totally unacceptable for youth to be turned away from playing a sport,’ she said.

It is expected the project would cost about $250,000, which councillors voted to list in the 2014-15 budget.

City Administration said a State Government grant could be applied for through the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund, which is awarded in February 2015.