Official opening hits Pennant Hills Oval
It was a memorable day for Gladesville Hornsby Football Association club Pennant Hills FC as they hosted the official opening of their new artificial surface facility, Pennant Hills Oval, on Saturday April 2nd.
The official launch of the ground coincided with the first Gladesville Hornsby Association Competition round as representatives from Hornsby Shire Council including the Mayor, Councillor Steve Russell and former Sport & Recreation Manager Peter Kemp and the State Member for Hornsby, Matt Kean MP all took part in what was a fantastic day for the club and the sport.
Gladesville Hornsby Football Association’s Chairperson Helen Armson and General Manager Mark Lockie along with former association General Manager Kay Iredale and Football NSW’s Head of Communications, Facilities & Government Relations Ricardo Piccioni were also present on a scorching autumn day.
Pennant Hills FC President Peter Quessey and Vice President Grahame Bateman, both inspirational figures behind this special project were also present as they proudly witnessed the first synthetic football field to grace the Gladesville Hornsby Football Association area and the first to be built by the Hornsby Shire Council.
The project was a culmination of several years’ work as attendees of the Football NSW Facilities Forum in November would recall both Grahame Bateman and Peter Kemp involved in a Question and Answer presentation on Pennant Hills Oval.
It was a long time coming as the new surface laid was rejoiced by the many registered football players in what is known to many as a proud football area.
The previous grass-field was chronically overused and restricted local players to football for just 130 days per year.
The Pennant Hills FC Committee toiled tirelessly for over a decade, eventually convincing the Hornsby Council to fund the installation of the synthetic pitch – the modern product installed by one of Australia’s most experienced companies, Turf One, deploying the innovative Field Turf ‘coolplay’ surface.
Further development of the site is currently progressing and will include a new amenities block but that is subject to funding.
To view the official highlights of the opening day at Pennant Hills Oval click here
