Facility funds could flow on back of bid - February 26 2008
Facility funds could flow on back of bid
Teo Pellizzeri
February 26 2008
Shepparton News
Shepparton is being targeted for an international-standard facility as the North Eastern Soccer League administration looks to capitalise on Australia's World Cup plans.
Amid the hype of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's support of an Australian bid for the 2018 World Cup, the flow-on effect for grass-roots football is where the Goulburn Valley hopes to benefit.
Football Federation Victoria's plans to introduce a summer zone competition also have North Eastern officials hopeful of government funding for a soccer facility.
A delegates meeting for North Eastern Soccer League clubs heard a basic outline of FFV's plans for rural Victoria at Barooga Sports Club on Sunday.
Federation board member Nick Monteleone told the meeting the federal and state governments would be lobbied to support the building of an international-standard facility in Shepparton.
Federation executive Mark Rendell echoed the comments by naming Shepparton as a venue for a training centre yesterday.
Artificial pitches similar to Melbourne's Darebin International Soccer Centre could be part of the upgrade in order to combat drought conditions for the summer zone competition.
As part of his election campaign to become state federation president last year, Tony Dunkerley said artificial pitches would play a key role in rural Victoria.
North Eastern league president Frank Trimboli said the wave of government interest in soccer would hopefully result in facility funding not previously seen.
``If we can get a licence for the summer league it would mean a team with a great facility and chief executive officer,'' Trimboli said.
Trimboli said he was delighted to have Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Eric Bott on board to help the Goulburn North-East zone's licence bid.
Cr Bott will be heavily involved in feasibility research for both facility provision and financial backing of a licence bid.
FFV will issue a detailed briefing on its plans for facility funding and the summer zone competition tomorrow.
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