Night soccer comes to Elcho Park for the first time
Courtesy: Geelong Advertiser Author: Jason Shields
FRIDAY night football has arrived in Geelong.
North Geelong Soccer Club kicked off a bright new era at Elcho Park in Lara last night as it hosted its first match underlights against Victorian Premier League club Melbourne Knights.
The Warriors, who won promotion into State League One last season, will play nine home games underlights on Fridays this season when the regular season begins in April.
“I think it is a turning point in regards to football in general in Geelong,” North Geelong president Joe Zilic said.
“As a result of us making this move, the Geelong Soccer Club has also successfully got half their season underlights as well and that is great for the game.
“It will give the traditional football fans a game to watch on a Friday night and the other factor is that we will get the chance to watch Rangers or Geelong on Saturdays and be able to support each other as local clubs. We also hope to attract people who are curious about the game but may have not been able to watch it on a Saturday arvo. We have a kitchen and a bar, so there is that chance to come down, have a snack and a chat and watch a different game.”
Zilic said the lights at Elco Park, which is owned by the local Croatian community, would also allow the club greater flexibility in terms of fixturing. “Ground availability in Geelong is getting scarcer and scarcer and our club itself has had an increase of about 30 to 40 juniors this year,” he said. “We need to accommodate these kids and can’t turn our back on them.”
The Warriors boss attributed the dramatic rise in junior numbers to greater community education about the sport.
“I think locally there is a lot more maturity in that people don’t regard it now as just wog ball or an ethnic game. We are moving away from that ignorance factor,” Zilic said. “The community doesn’t see soccer as a group of ethnic minorities getting together, they now realise the game itself is quite good.”
A 400-strong crowed turned out last night to see the 1-1 draw.
