Field of Dreams or “No Play Today”

Bill McKinlay Park

(Click the image above to see additional images)

 

Having just experienced another wet, cold winter, thousands of players around the country faced “Field Closed” signs, cancellations and postponements because of wet soggy sports fields. 

Disruptions to the sports programmes were very frustrating both for the kids and parents, resulting in loss of motivation, inactive players mulling around the home and parents demanding answers from Sports Clubs and Councils as to why adequate playing surfaces cannot be provided for major winter codes – and when the chance does come along to play, the surface is not ideal to develop champions and All Blacks or All Whites of the future. 

MWST [Mt Wellington Stadium Trust] has seen the last of these problems, in fact the wet weather increases the demand for this facility, now they have installed a new TigerTurf synthetic field at Bill McKinlay Park. Barbara Cox, [Chair person of MWST] has worked tirelessly to raise funding, supported by the new Auckland Council, as a major contributor to the $850,000 project.  

Given just 9 weeks to construct and install a full synthetic turf system to FIFA 2 star performance, TigerTurf had the Trust ‘ready for play’ by 9th June. “TigerTurf responded to the challenge and delivered the surface earlier than expected” says Barbara Cox. “We found TigerTurf easy to deal with and the whole experience was most fulfilling and enjoyable”. 

Touch New Zealand were quick to take up the opportunity to use this facility, with Ivan Pomare claiming the new TigerTurf surface is brilliant for the social player who enjoys a fast dry surface – it feels you are running on cushioned air. 

The new TigerTurf has been used extensively by local schools, such as Sacred Heart, Auckland Grammar, etc along with nearby Clubs to help keep their seasons on track. In addition a series of games were played between National League Franchises, Auckland City and Waitakere City against visiting club, Rewa of Fiji in a ‘festival of football’ over the last weekend in September. Unfortunately for Rewa, the Auckland teams won their fixtures 11-0 and 4-1 respectively.