unley oval

[Dog_ger]

Hey Rising, You going to the nightie...? How about a beer...? Where you going to be...?

[therisingblues]

Thanks a lot guys. It was enjoyable to write that post, I began to remember the details the more I thought about it, and couldn't stop. I'm glad if others remember it a bit better for what I wrote.
Ronnie, the ground rationalisation was a strong topic at the time, and it was quite a popular move. I guess we never thought that they would tear everything down like they did, or that we would have trouble returning to our home ground. I'll admit now that I was one of the mistooken fools that went along with it all. But a couple of years after we'd shifted to Adelaide Oval, and before they transformed the place, I returned to Unley, and just standing on terraces made me feel pretty bad about the fact that we weren't there anymore. A weird element that added to the nostalgia was that there were about 8 rows of very tall weeds, some reaching about 5 foot high, sticking out between the gaps in the asphalt only in the area where the Sturt Cheer Squad used to sit. Everywhere else there were only tiny weeds, barely noticable. We used to have "weed fights" back in the day when cheer squads were huge, I found it a little ironic that our regular pruning of the embattled weeds up the Northern end would result in a crowd of the plants shadowing the terraces where we used to watch the games, long after we'd left.
MST, I was at that last game in 85, the only memories I retain are of Robbert Klomp being chaired off after his last game, and that we remained undefeated at home in our farewell season at Unley.
Dogger, I won't be able to arrange a flight in time for the "nightie". There is a good chance I will be back in Adelaide for Sturt vs West at Unley this year. It'll be my first game in five years if youare about.

[XXXXRooster]

From the way it was 82 highlights tape(why i never offered to buy that thing off the video shop i dont know!!!) there was a Port V Sturt epic from that yr that i belive was a 20 goal + each thriller in front of 20000 SANFL maniacs!!!! that must be up the big Unley crowds lists somewhere

[Jimmy]

From the way it was 82 highlights tape(why i never offered to buy that thing off the video shop i dont know!!!) there was a Port V Sturt epic from that yr that i belive was a 20 goal + each thriller in front of 20000 SANFL maniacs!!!! that must be up the big Unley crowds lists somewhere

4X i think this is the game i am referring too in my previous post...i think the crowd was 22000+...have to talk to the old man about that tho

[sturtpeter]

Oh for the old memories of Bob Shearman stab kicking a glorious pass to Malcolm Greenslade on a quick lead.

Unley Oval is an institution in the SANFL and as previosly stated leaving it was disastrous for the SFC.

Maybe not having an entire outer area is disappointing but who with any common sense would argue that the atmosphere in the two games which attracted over 4,000 last season i.e. South and the Redlegs was sensational.

I would rather see Unley with 4,000 and atmosphere than Woodville, Noarlunga or Broadspectum with 2,000 lacking true spirit and emotion.

Unley is and always will be the home of the Double Blues.

[Punk Rooster]

Maybe not having an entire outer area is disappointing but who with any common sense would argue that the atmosphere in the two games which attracted over 4,000 last season i.e. South and the Redlegs was sensational.

I think the best atmosphere at Unley, would've been North v Sturt, in 2004. 5000, on a Sunday, great game (Roosters got up by 11 pts, a late sensational tackle by a North player turning the ball over to seal it)

[Ronnie]

Punk, I remember the game well that you speak of, one of those matches played more like a final than a minor round.
What the posts on here show is that, although it was known already, is that the home ground of Sturt is Unley Oval, and nowhere else.
Any voluntary move away to Adelaide or Wayville (FFS!) would be tantamount to suicide.

[Wedgie]

or Wayville (FFS!) .

Max, is that you?

Yeah why play at a ground with carparking, facilities, stands, better atmosphere, better location, better public transport, etc when you can play on an A5 ground with dog shit and can view the splendid donuts some clown did the night before in his Kingswood, would almost make the SANFL look semi professional, we couldn't have that!?

Sheesh, think outside the circle people, Unley Oval is great to the few Sturt diehards but we're trying to promote the league and get more people through the gate.
Personally I'm glad North aren't playing there this year, one of the closest grounds for me to travel to as well. I hope we do a similar deal as this year and last year when we give up a Prossie game just so we don't have to play at that joke. And that's despite the fact we haven't lost at Unley for a bloody long time.

Don't get me wrong, Unley Oval of the pre 90s was a fantastic place. The Unley Oval of the 2000s has no ghosts except for those of a few dead pigeons.

Personally I'd rather go forwards than backwards or staying static at the very best.

[old blue]

As a (very) long term member of Sturt I'm as sure as anyone can be, that the club will never again make the mistake of moving away from Unley. We learnt a very hard lesson from that and other mistakes we made in the 1980's. Sure there are some issues with fencing, facilities and the future of the current club rooms, but these will be worked through over time. Sturt, like all other clubs, recognize that the future of SANFL footy as a whole rests on its ability to function in partnership with local communities. I even think that the present situation with Unley Oval, i.e. being open most of the time for public recreational use may become the norm in the future. As pressure on remaining open spaces in urban areas grows, I suspect that other clubs will come under pressure from councils and local community groups to open up "their" ovals too. These are issues we will have to accept and work through in a sensible way.

[Wedgie]

Sturt, like all other clubs, recognize that the future of SANFL footy as a whole rests on its ability to function in partnership with local communities.

I find that an incredibly backwards statement, most clubs have bugerall relationships with their local communties these days compared to the old days and I can't see it improving, if anything clubs are recognised the fact that they'd die if they wholey rested their ability to function in partnership with local communities and are looking at broader pastures to increase revenue, exposure, etc. Hence why North are looking at Greenacres and Sefton Park, why Norwood are looking at Golden Grove and Nth East Rd, why Sturt is looking at Edwardstown, why South moved to Noarlunga, why Central always keep an eye on the Barossa, why Port develop the Eyre Peninusla and Salisbury, etc and not just in monetary ways, in much broader ways, Darwin isn't exactly a suburb surrounding Prospect for eg.

That statement has me absolutely dumbfounded. Its like its been in a time capsule for 30 years and just popped out.


Why do people confuse Sturts incompetence at Board and club level in the late 80s in regard to football management with them moving?
Sturt being crap in the 90s had nothing to do with moving away from Unley. I'd be looking more closeley at incidents such as the Merv Keane sacking and what board/administrative performance if I was looking for reasons why Sturt were what they were in the 90s.

[old blue]

Just a small addition, as I've just read Wedgies last post . I think you're way off the beam mate. I'm not talking about ghosts of the past, or even some over optimistic view of where SANFL footy is headed. Rather it's about facing up to its diminishing importance in the overall scheme of things. We cannot thumb our noses at people who want open spaces to walk their dogs, fly kites or whatever. To do so would be a recipe for disaster. Become part of the local community or become irrelevent.

[Wedgie]

Just a small addition, as I've just read Wedgies last post . I think you're way off the beam mate. I'm not talking about ghosts of the past, or even some over optimistic view of where SANFL footy is headed. Rather it's about facing up to its diminishing importance in the overall scheme of things. We cannot thumb our noses at people who want open spaces to walk their dogs, fly kites or whatever. To do so would be a recipe for disaster. Become part of the local community or become irrelevent.

Once again old blue, we must go to and follow a completely different SANFL, your last statment is like something out of the 40s.
The local community is fairly irrelevent IMHO. Just look at the way the people in Unley (including an ex Sturt player) didn't want Sturt there.

I can't believe how pessimistic you are about the SANFL.

I even have an idea that Sturt are doing some work at Mannum and Murray Bridge.
I don't think Jen's Hotel is in Noarlunga either.
Mistral ain't exactly a Prospect based company.

Target the local community and die in a hurry. Look abroad and thrive.

Someone's off beam champ and it ain't me, I think every SANFL club would agree with me but some 70 yo's who still sit in the outer with their crocheted rugs would agree with you. I think the amateurs is for you champ if you're after community spirit. I know probably hundreds of North fans and don't think one lives at Prospect, times have changed mate, get with them, or be left behind, same for the SANFL.

(PS although we disagree, its an interesting and thought provoking discussion and I admire your passion and am enjoying this subject)

[Strawb]

i agree with you there Wedgie the times have changed. The clubs that will do well are the clubs with a home ground. Westies, North, Norwood most teams have control over their grounds. Sturt doesn't have any control over Unley oval. When Sturt left in the 1980's the people of Unley deceided that if Sturt doesn't want us we don't want them. When Sturt wanted to return all that got was not even half a ground.
I personally don't like going to Unley i prefer space and at Unley there isn't space. When it rains the ground is a Boghole and to be a mainstream competition you need a decent sized ground. I feel Sturt needs either to move to Wayville Showgrounds or to find an oval that is up to League standards and that they can develop into a great venue to watch footy at.
Richmond oval needs alot of work done to the ground which is slowly happening, but i feel that it takes time and money and we can guess which happens sometimes. West Adelaide took the time and money to develop Richmond oval and made it into one of the Best venues to watch a game at. Slowly we are updating facilites and making the ground number one again to watch footy at IMO.

[Rhino]

For my two cents worth, I believe the the SFC are now fairly secular within the Unley "community". Most of the club's supporters it can be shown live outside of the 5061 postcode and immediate surrounding postcodes. It's not so much about community but about Council. Unley as a ground will live and die by the whim of the Unley Council. They own the land and buildings (always have) and will ultimately decide its future.

You can debate whether previous SFC Boards excaserbated this issue by moving to Adelaide Oval in the 90's and providing the catalyst for the Council to return the oval to the "community" but that is a debate for another day (or thread).

Wedgie, you may not understand this but Unley is our home. The Sturt Football Club's home. What you think or may not think of it as an opposition supporter is irrelavent to me, as 99% of SFC supporters love going to Unley to watch their team play and have voted with their feet as Sturt has attracted the largest average crowd figures over the most of last five years (slipped a little last year mainly due to weather conditions). See SANFL average home attendance statistics.

As for the best carparking (Prospect's carparking situation is better, hardly), facilities, stands, better atmosphere (you were at the last game in 2004 between our clubs - 5000 people = ridiculous statement), better location (what's wrong with the location?), better public transport (bus runs straight down Unley Rd like it does Prospect Rd). These statements hardly warrant response. No better atmosphere at a NAFC home game than a SFC home game.

Unley Oval may not have the best facilities in the league, it may not have the best and brightest grandstands in the league but hell its our home and we're damn proud of it!

You can't get blood out of a stone (Council) and even improvements that were proposed (and to be paid for by the SFC) have been knocked back on many occasions by Council eg. better coaches boxes.

So before making negative, derogatory statements about our home ground, perhaps take the time to understand why, or even ask someone like me who can provide this background before shit-canning.

Very disappointed in your post mate. Thought you were above those sorts of statements and comments.

Won't find me shit-canning another club's ovals and/or facilities because I for one know the ongoing costs and problems that can occur and all SANFL clubs experience these to varying degrees.

[Wedgie]

As for the best carparking (Prospect's carparking situation is better, hardly), facilities, stands, better atmosphere (you were at the last game in 2004 between our clubs - 5000 people = ridiculous statement), better location (what's wrong with the location?), better public transport (bus runs straight down Unley Rd like it does Prospect Rd). These statements hardly warrant response. No better atmosphere at a NAFC home game than a SFC home game.

You've missed my point completely, I was selling Wayville hence considering parking, facilities, stands, atmosphere, public transport, location, etc.
Prospect Oval and North Adelaide has nothing to do with my point.
If you want to discuss the merits of Prospect Oval v Adelaide Oval or another facility in the Northern Area feel welcome too, you'd actually be backing up my point.

Re-read it again champ, you're way off track and have gone off on an emotional tangent which has nothing to do with my point.

Just for the record and off track from my point but one I will disagree with you vehemently, Unley Oval IMHO has no atmosphere, being cattled into the same part of the ground is not a traditional footy crowd and I hate it to tell the truth, you need noise coming from the other side of the oval to get true footy atmosphere IMHO. Also I will shit can every club's facilities if they're not up to what I consider SANFL starndard, North's toilets at the Southern End are a prime eg of that, if we don't criticise and let people know about these things they'll never get improved. Don't argue these points with me though, because as I said it is completely irrelevent to the point I was making.

Also I understand fully why unley and other ovals aren't up to scratch, this is irrelevent to my point and I'm not sure why you're addressing it to me.

If you're disappointed in me, I'm even more disappointed in you for not even reading someone's post through before rubbishing it. I honestly though you were above that.
My posts have the SANFL competition and its future at heart and are valid points. You shouldn't generalise and personally have a go at me, tell me where I'm wrong and discuss it in an adult manner like old blue and several others have manged to do.

Cheers.

[westies sarge]

strawbs m8 make your mind up first you say that i have loward the 'smart bar' with this thread and now you're agreeing with what wedgie is saying. he is saying what i said first off and i got abused for it....

[Wedgie]

strawbs m8 make your mind up first you say that i have loward the 'smart bar' with this thread and now you're agreeing with what wedgie is saying. he is saying what i said first off and i got abused for it....

lol, don't worry about the sarge, its good if I agree with you as that just means I'll cop any criticism for a post you started!

[MW]

... i have loward the 'smart bar' ...

[Rhino]

Yeah Wedge, that deafening roar from the outer wing at all other SANFL grounds always bursts my eardrums!! I would have thought a tightly packed crowd of 4000-5000 would be a much better atmosphere than the same number spread around the outer of a much bigger area? If you're talking 10000 people, well that's different. But those days are gone (barring the odd one or two exceptions). At least during the minor round.

The statements "My posts have the SANFL competition and its future at heart and are valid points" and "You shouldn't generalise and personally have a go at me, tell me where I'm wrong and discuss it in an adult manner like old blue and several others have manged to do",

are polar opposite to,

"Yeah why play at a ground with carparking, facilities, stands, better atmosphere, better location, better public transport, etc when you can play on an A5 ground with dog shit and can view the splendid donuts some clown did the night before in his Kingswood, would almost make the SANFL look semi professional, we couldn't have that!?

1. Not valid points
2. Not discussed in "adult manner"
3. Not productive
4. Not positive
5. Not required

Don't make those sorts of statements and (A) not expect an emotional response or (B) expect someone to believe their based on the foundation of having the SANFL and its future at heart. Far from constructive don't you think? That's where you're wrong, but hey, that's only my opinion.

If you want to be positive, perhaps come up with some ideas as to where the $$ will come from that would be required to make your Wayville suggestion viable? I have been advised over $1M is the amount required to make the facility viable for SANFL football eg. changerooms and showers to be built.

[spell_check]

Why can't they have permanent fencing around Unley? It can still have gates that can be opened for public use.
The scoreboard can be moved and it won't have any affect on the public using the place either. In the long run it will save time and money (labour) for having to set up the temporary fence each time.