St George FA hoping for first synthetic pitch

The St George Football Association has been promised its first synthetic football field at Penshurst Park should a re-elected Coalition Government come into power after the Liberal Party Deputy Leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop delivered an election pitch at a news conference with Banks MP David Coleman on Thursday.

Julie Bishop stated a promise that $1 million would go towards the proposed $10 million upgrade of adjoining Penshurst Park and Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre which would include a synthetic football field.

A further $100,000 would also go towards improvements at Peakhurst Park, including upgrading the amenities block, new seating and better fencing.

Overall, a promise of $1.75 million for sports facility improvements in the St George area were announced on the day.

Executive Director and Chairman of St George Football Association Sok Mallios stated that the region was desperately needing a synthetic field.

“We have been crying out for a synthetic field in our area”, he told the St George Leader.

“We feel like the poor cousin to other regions – some have five or six,” he said.

“This will be the first in St George, and there will be a few others in the Rockdale area, which have been announced but they will be a few years away.”

 “Our association has 10,000 players, and wet weather can cause games to be cancelled for anywhere between two and six rounds out of 18 a year.

“We called off last weekend and we haven’t been able to train this week.

“The thing about a synthetic field is you can use it all day in all weather.”