Originally Posted by
nbnjet
Lets argue the point i say! I can only go off info i have read or been told, and from what i am aware of both Edgy and Magic have contributed a huge amount outside of Gov funding. Show me a ground that hasnt had public funds devoted to it, but once again from all accounts the Gov funding of Wanderers Park is only minimal, unless you can advise otherwise? In saying that Weston may have foot half the bill for their lights a few years ago, no mean feat i must say. But Adamstown? Mate, what do you take me for? Adamstown spent a huge amount on their ground? You have to be kidding. From what was published in the herald i understand they got $140000 from Newcastle City Council to upgrade their lights and develop their training facility behind the main field. The grandstand was built for them. The field has always been maintained by NCC and i believe there is a semi permanent groundsman based there, or even two at times. They had care and control of all funds raised by the Adamstown No. 1 grounds committee that was packed with Adamstown people and who masterly denied other teams like Olympic the chance to play on the field when they needed to. And they spent council monies accordingly. How good would it have been for all clubs to be able to get their money back and reinvest on their own facilities. Now apart from that the canteen, which has been there longer than sliced bread, but not as long as the old entrance, i think they actually may have spent up big on the ticket box! Give me a break. Tell me where they have spent money on the facility? Im all for everybody having an opinion on this site but not for telling porkies.
IF I AM WRONG IM HAPPY TO TAKE THE CRITICISM, BUT I DONT MAKE UP STUFF!
Library / Baths, point being exactly that football is not played there yet it is Gov funded... Just because Gov funds something doesnt mean its open to whoever wants it. Just because there are a few blades of grass around the place doesnt mean that football has a right to it!
I am NOT against a wine and food festival. Sorry i will start again. I am not against a football festival. Lets get this straight i am against using No. 2, especially Olympic using No.2 sports ground. I can see Cooks Hill have a far greater argument for using No.2 but once again it belongs to NRU so there is no point fighting that, and there is no point poking the sleeping giant because as we give up a ground guess who will move in? I do however believe a football festival will not bring a mass of crowds that would justify Olympic moving to No.2 or even a Derby match that will justify a move to No.2. I cant see why they would waste monies when they can play on their own home territory, and lets face it by moving there they are giving up a home advantage. I cant help but feel they may have conjured this up with Northern via Alan Nesbit.
Have the festival but for crying out loud have it at Darling Street...
For the record i do like wine and food festivals, but i have not spent 16 hours at one, not even Octoberfest if it counts. And yes i will stroll around and pay particular attention to what catches my eye. BUT i cannot see people being at the football from morning till late just because we call the day a "festival of Football". If it was the World Cup NO PROBLEM, but seriously... If you have a 15 year old you will know they have so many other priorities too, not to mention taking the sister to netball, the other brother to Cessnock for another game. Hats off to those who will stay the whole day but apart from the committee you will be able to count them on one hand. And there is nothing new about playing football all day, plenty of clubs have played juniors before the main grades when they have had to, but i can guarantee you that with overuse of surfaces these types of events would not be a positive from the ground quality perspective. Imagine its a wet day and this festival of football digs up the ground for the NRU? Will a deserving local club like Cooks Hill ever get a chance to play on it if that is there dream?
Justify why playing a festival of football on No.2 from morning to night will advance the code?a