Jump for joy! Joseph Branca, Casey councillor Kevin Bradford, Nicholas Buswell, Casey Comets Soccer Club president Charlie Branca and Alfie Burvill are thrilled that a much-needed pavilion extension has been given the green light.
By Glen Atwell
“THIRD world” facilities at the Casey Comets Soccer Club will be improved after Casey Council committed an additional $150,000 funding to extend the run-down pavilion.
More than $500,000 will be spent upgrading dilapidated facilities at the O’Tooles Road soccer centre to ensure the club’s Women’s Premier League side meets minimum standards set by the Football Federation Victoria (FFV).
Casey Comets women’s coach and club doyen Deborah Nichols said the conditions of the showers and change rooms were “third world”.
“The showers are disgusting and it’s embarrassing as a Women’s Premier League club to have an old, broken down portable for change rooms. It’s been like that for five years,” she said.
The plight of the Comets was first raised in council’s 2004/05 budget.
Council allocated $250,000 for pavilion works, but the money was spent on planning delays and increases in construction costs.
Further funding in 2005/06 was spent on upgrading the coaches box and spectator fencing to meet FFV premier league requirements.
The $150,000 committed at last week’s Casey Council meeting will ensure the pavilion will soon be built.
Ms Nichols said it was pleasing to have the support of council.
“City of Casey has sponsored us for the last two seasons, so they were obviously keen to show they were doing something,” Ms Nichols said.
“The car park is being sealed, so that will be a positive, and once we get those artificial pitches and the main pitch re-done properly, we will start to have a facility that clubs actually want to come to.”
The top women’s team is in a rebuilding phase after being one of the premier league’s top sides since its inception 14 years ago.
Cr Kevin Bradford said it was an embarrassment that a local club with 300 junior players and more than 700 paid-up members had no door on its toilet.
“How can Casey Council neglect a club as strong as the Casey Comets?” he said.
“Yet the council has spent more than $500,000 on luring Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields. It’s absurd.”
Comets President Charlie Branca said after 30 years the club still did not have a disabled toilet.
“It’s disappointing that things have gotten as bad as they are, but I’m thankful that Cr Bradford has assured our future by helping to secure this funding,” he said.
The Comets completed their Women’s Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win over Sandringham on Sunday to finish the season in seventh spot.
